Advanced Zooarchaeology
Module title | Advanced Zooarchaeology |
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Module code | ARCM403 |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Professor Alan Outram (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 5 |
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Module description
Zooarchaeology is the study of past human interactions with animals, through the analysis of faunal remains from archaeological sites. This module focuses on the methods that zooarchaeologists use to identify faunal remains and interpret what they mean. It involves learning to identify the bones and teeth of the most significant wild and domestic animal species (mammals, birds and fish) commonly found in Britain. It will explore how to establish past human patterns of hunting, farming and social interaction. Course content will contain short lectures, seminars, exercises in interpreting faunal data, and practical engagement with bones.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module will provide training in the theory and practice of zooarchaeology, giving competence in the techniques of observation, recording and interpretation. You will attain competence in the identification and recording of bones from some common animal species and will gain an understanding of how to analyse such data. You will be acquainted with how bone assemblages can be interpreted to give us a fuller picture of past cultures, economies and environments in different archaeological periods.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically understand the key theoretical concepts of zooarchaeology
- 2. Use appropriate terms and conventions employed in archaeology
- 3. Demonstrate competence in the identification and recording of the bones and teeth from key animal species
- 4. Prepare and interpret zooarchaeological data
- 5. Critically appreciate the ways in which animal bone assemblages can tell us about past cultures, economies and environment in different archaeological periods
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Show initiative in interpreting a variety of information forms
- 7. Assimilate/manage numerical and graphical data
- 8. Deploy data from technical reports
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Manage data and display it graphically
- 10. Acquire a range of observational and analytical skills which are applicable in the wider world
- 11. Ask pertinent questions, contribute to group discussions, and co-operate with and learn from peers
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Throughout the course weekly sessions will cover the identification of skeletal elements from key species of mammal, bird and fish.
Other topics:
- Bird and fish skeleton and nomenclature
- Taphonomy
- Quantification; skeletal part abundance and transport
- Seasonality
- Age at death from bone fusion and dental eruption and wear
- Sexing criteria: metrical and non-metrical traits
- Domestication and breed development
- Reconstructing herd structures
- Sheep/goat separation
- Butchery, bone fracture, pathology
- Assemblage analysis
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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33 | 117 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 33 | Made up of approximately 11 hours of seminars/mini-lectures and live discussion content, and approximately 22 hours of guided practical engagement with archaeological bone material. |
Guided independent study | 117 | Independent team work on the identification, recording and analysis of a zooarchaeological assemblage. Computer aided learning and reference resources regarding bone identification. |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Tutorial discussion | 0.5 hours | 1, 5, 11 | Oral feedback in tutorial |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Contribution to (and quality of) identification and recording | 30 | Equivalent to 1000 words | 3, 10 | Written feedback |
Project analysing zooarchaeological data | 70 | 3000 words | 1, 2, 4-10 | Mark and written comments and tutorial discussion |
0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
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Contribution to (and quality of) identification and recording (equivalent to 1000 words) | Skills Test | 3, 10 | Ref/Def period |
Project: professional zooarchaeological report (3000 words) | Project: professional zooarchaeological report (3000 words) | 1, 2, 4-10 | Ref/Def period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Cohen, A. and Serjeantson, D. (1996) A Manual for the Identification of Bird Bones from Archaeological Sites. London: Archetype.
- Davis, S.J.M. (1987). The Archaeology of Animals. London: Batsford
- Dobney, K.M., Jaques, S.D. and Irving, B.G. (1995). Of Butchers and Breeds: report on the vertebrate remains from the City of Lincoln. Lincoln: Lincoln Archaeological Studies 5.
- Driesch A.E. von den (1976). A Guide to the Measurement of Animal Bones from Archaeological Sites. Peabody Museum Bulletin 1.
- Legge, A.J. and Rowley-Conwy, P.A. (1988). Star Carr Revisited. London: Centre for Extra Mural Studies.
- Lyman, R.L. (1994) Vertebrate Taphonomy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Outram, AK and Bogaard, A. (2019) Subsistence and Society in Prehistory: New Directions in Economic Prehistory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Reitz, E.J. and Wing, E.A. (2008) Zooarchaeology (2nd Ed.).Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Rowley-Conwy, P.A. Ed. (2000) Animal Bones, Human Societies. Oxford: Oxbow Monographs.
- Sykes, N. (2014) Beastly Questions: Animal Answers to Archaeological Issues. London; Bloomsbury.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- Departmental animal bone reference collection
- Computer aided learning materials for animal bone identification
Credit value | 15 |
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Module ECTS | 7.5 |
Module pre-requisites | ARC2504 (or equivalent from another institution) |
Module co-requisites | ARCM407 ONLY if pre-requisites not met |
NQF level (module) | 7 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 2011 |
Last revision date | 04/05/2023 |