The Archaeology of Humans and Other Animals
| Module title | The Archaeology of Humans and Other Animals |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARCM415 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Alan Outram (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 5 |
|---|
Module description
The module aims to provide you with a sophisticated appreciation of the theory and practice of bioarchaeology and deliver first-hand experience of how human and animal assemblages can be analysed to inform on past societies, economies and environments in different archaeological periods.
Module aims - intentions of the module
You will develop a range of practical analytical skills needed in the advanced practice of bioarchaeology and have the opportunity to undertake original research, on a topic of your interest, either individually or in a team.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically understand advanced theoretical concepts of bioarchaeology
- 2. Use appropriate terms and conventions employed in bioarchaeology
- 3. Demonstrate competence in a range of analytical methods employed in the analysis of human and animal remains
- 4. Undertake data collection and analysis to an advanced level
- 5. Critically evaluate different approaches to bioarchaeology and how they lead to interpretations of the cultures, economies and environments
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Show initiative in collecting, integrating and interpreting a wide variety of information forms
- 7. Assimilate/manage numerical and graphical data
- 8. Deploy sophisticated 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:
Introduction to module and assessments
Bioarchaeological Methods:
- Metrical analysis and use of Geometric Morphometrics
- Digital and medical imaging
- Fracture and fragmentation analysis
- Recording butchery, pathology and bone modifications
- Biomolecular techniques and ethics of destructive analysis
Thematic Topics:
- Movement and Migration
- Demographic Transitions
- Diet
- Disease, trauma, pathologies and care
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 117 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 33 | Made up of approximately 11 hours of lecture/seminar and live discussions plus 22 hours of training with analytical equipment and guided practical engagement with archaeological bone material. |
| Guided Independent Study | 117 | Independent study on project work including use of analytical equipment, data analysis and interpretation. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar participation | Ongoing assessment | 11 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research project proposal pitch | 40 | 10 slides plus reference list. Equivalent of 1000 words | 1-10 | Mark, oral and written feedback |
| Project | 60 | 3000 words plus illustrations and graphs | 1-10 | Mark and written feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research project proposal (10 slides plus reference list. Equivalent of 1000 words) | 1000 word proposal | 1-10 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Project (3000 words plus illustrations and graphs) | Project (3000 words plus illustrations and graphs) | 1-10 | Referral/Deferral 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
- Aufderheide, A.C. and Rodriguez-Martin, C. (1998) The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Human Palaeopathology. Cambridge University Press.
- Evershed RP, Davey Smith G, Roffet-Salque M, Timpson A, Diekmann Y, Lyon MS, Cramp LJE, Casanova E, Smyth J, Whelton HL, et al (2022) Dairying, diseases and the evolution of lactase persistence in Europe. Nature, 608(7922), 336-345.
- Johnson EV, Parmenter PCR and Outram, AK (2016) A new approach to profiling taphonomic history through bone fracture analysis, with an example application to the Linearbandkeramik site of Ludwinowo 7. Journal of Archaeological Science Reports 9, 623-629.
- Kimmerle, E.H. and Baraybar, J.P., (2008) Skeletal Trauma: Identification of Injuries Resulting from Human Rights Abuse and Armed Conflict. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
- Lewis, M. 2017. Paleopathology of Children. Identification of Pathological Conditions in the Human Skeletal remains of Non-Adults. Elsevier: Academic Press
- Mitteroecker, P., & Schäfer, K. (2022) Thirty years of geometric morphometrics: Achievements, challenges, and the ongoing quest for biological meaningfulness. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 178(74), 181-210.
- Pollard, M, Armitage, RA and Makarewicz, CA (eds) (2023) Handbook of Archaeological Sciences. Chichester: Wiley. (Sections 3 to 6).
- Robins Schug, G. (ed.) (2021) The Routledge Handbook of the Bioarchaeology of Climate and Environmental Change. London: Routledge.
- Sykes, N. and Shaw, J. (eds) (2022) The Archaeology of Medicine and Healthcare. London: Taylor and Francis
- Zelditch, Miriam Leah, Donald L. Swiderski, H. David Sheets, and William L. Fink. 2004. Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists, San Diego: Academic Press.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | ARC2504 or ARCM407 or ARCM403 or equivalent from another institution |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2011 |
| Last revision date | 15/03/2023 |
