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Advanced Human Osteology

Module description

In this module you will acquire an in-depth understanding of human remains from archaeological contexts. This understanding will also be applicable to the investigation of forensic contexts. The module consists of a consideration of the history of the discipline of biological anthropology, pathological processes, and the physical anthropological techniques employed in the analysis of the human skeletal material. There will be emphasis on the metric and non-metric characterisation of skeletal shape and size and the application of demographic reference standards for age, sex determination and population affinity. The aim of this module is to provide you with the knowledge to assess human remains at both individual and population levels and to interpret the pathological and demographic data in the light of their archaeological or forensic context. It also provides an introduction to the means by which archaeologists can investigate the health and well-being of past human groups.

This module is core for those studying the MSC in Bioarchaeology (Human Osteoarchaeology), but is also available as an option for other Masters students who have the necessary prior understanding of musculo-skeletal anatomy (ARCM414).

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module forms an in-depth study of human remains from archaeological contexts that are also applicable to those encountered in forensic contexts. It consists of a consideration of the history of the discipline of biological anthropology, pathological processes, and the physical anthropological techniques employed in the analysis of the human skeletal material with emphases on the metric and non-metric characterisation of skeletal shape and size, and application of demographic reference standards for age and sex determination and population affinity.

The aim of this module is to provide you with the knowledge to assess human remains at both individual and population levels and to interpret the pathological and demographic data in the light of their archaeological or forensic context. It also provides an introduction to the means by which to investigate human health and well-being of past human groups through an emphasis on the identification, description, and recording of pathological lesions in human skeletal remains.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Master key concepts of human osteology
• 2. Use terms and conventions commonly employed in biological anthropology accurately
• 3. Demonstrate competence in the use of osteoarchaeological standards for the assessment of human skeletal remains
• 4. Demonstrate familiarity with methods of identification, description and diagnosis of pathological change in the skeleton and dentition

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Show initiative in interpreting a variety of information forms
• 6. Be aware of how human remains integrate with other aspects of archaeological enquiry
• 7. Experience of a wide range of practical skills at an advanced level

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Demonstrate competence in summarizing published research
• 9. Demonstrate competent knowledge base in written wor
• 10. Demonstrate mastery of academic discourse, both oral and written
• 11. Demonstrate competence in the performance of laboratory protocols

Syllabus plan

The course will start with an introduction to biological anthropology. Each week you will cover different topics and learn the practical skills necessary to analyse human skeletal remains. The course covers estimation of sex, age and stature and then outlines the palaeopathological lesions which may be identified in human skeletal remains. 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

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. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Aufderheide, A.C. and Rodriquez-Martin, C. (1998). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Paleopathology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (UK).
• Baker, B.J., Dupras, T.L., and Tocheri, M.W. (2005). The Osteology of Infants and Children. Texas A & M University Press. College Station (TX).
• Bass, W.M. (1987). Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual. Missouri Archaeological Society, Columbia (MO).
• Buikstra, J.E. and Beck, L.A. (eds.) (2006). Bioarchaeology: The Contextual Analysis of Human Remains. Academic Press, Amsterdam.
• Buikstra, J.E. and Ubelaker, D.H. (eds.) (1994). Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains. Arkansas Archaeological Survey, Fayetteville (AR).
• Cox, M. and May, S. (eds.) (2000). Human Osteology in Archaeology and Forensic Science. Greenwich Medical Media, London.
• Hillson, S. (1986). Teeth. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (UK). Hillson, S. (1996). Dental Anthropology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (UK).
• Krogman, W.M. and Iscan, M.Y. (1986). The Human Skeleton in Forensic Medicine. Charles C. Thomas Publishers, Springfield (IL).
• Larsen, C.S. (1997). Bioarchaeology. Interpreting Behaviour from the Human Skeleton. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
• Gowland, R. and Knsel, C.J. (eds.) 2006. Social Archaeology of Funerary Remains. Oxbow Books, Oxford. Mays, S. (1998). The Archaeology of Human Bones. Routledge, London.
• Ortner, D.J. (2003). Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains. (Second Edition). Academic Press, Amsterdam.
• Roberts, C.A. and Cox, M. (2003). Health and Disease in Britain: From Prehistory to the Present Day. Sutton Publishing, Stroud, Gloucestershire.
• Roberts, C.A. and Manchester, K.M. (2005). The Archaeology of Disease. Alan Sutton Publishing, Stroud, Gloucester (UK).
• Saunders, S.R., Katzenberg, M.A. (eds.) (2008). Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton. Wiley, New York.
• van Beek, G.C. (1983). Dental Morphology: An Illustrated Guide. (Second Edition). Wright, Oxford.
• White, T.D. and Folkens, P.A. (1999). Human Osteology. Academic Press, New York. (most recent edition)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=106
• http://www.babao.org.uk/ (British Association of Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology)
• http://www.babao.org.uk/index/ethics-and-standards
• http://www.babao.org.uk/HumanremainsFINAL.pdf http://physanth.org/ (American Association of Biological Anthropologists)
• http://www.bahid.org/ (British Association for Human Identification)
• http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~chan/capa/ (Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology/L'Association Canadienne d'Anthropologie Physique) Other resources: Fordisc, Cranid

Key words search

Archaeology, Human Osteology, Biological, Anthropology, Bioarchaeology