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Funerary Osteoarchaeology

Module description

Funerary osteoarchaeology can provide fascinating insights into past societies. By examining archaeological contexts and physical human remains it is possible to learn about interactions with the dead, past belief systems, social organisation, and the perceived importance of monumentality. This module highlights directions and trends in recent scholarship in funerary archaeology, and draws upon ethnographic examples to develop contextual interpretations about prehistoric and historic funerary practices. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will outline the complex and variable funerary treatments of the dead in past societies through a mixed educational package. The focus is predominantly on the British Isles (with additional examples included from further afield) and traces a chronological development from early prehistory to the late and/or post-medieval period. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Demonstrate an appreciation for the diversity of funerary behaviour and its use in reconstructing the social organisation of past societies
• 2. Accurately use terms to describe the position of the skeleton in different funerary contexts

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 3. Apply a biocultural approach to the study of funerary osteoarchaeology
• 4. Demonstrate an understanding of how the funerary record can be integrated within archaeological discourse

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 5. Critically evaluate information drawn from a variety of sources, including lectures, course literature, and archaeological plans
• 6. Demonstrate proficiency in written presentation skills

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.

The course will start with an introduction to theoretical approaches to osteoarchaeology. The classes will then focus on different time periods starting from the early evidence of burial practices in early pre-history and ending with the late and/or post-medieval period.

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 40%) 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 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Daniell, C. 1997. Death and Burial in Medieval England. Routledge, London.
• Gowland, R. and Knusel, C.J. (eds.) 2006. Social Archaeology of Funerary Remains. Oxbow Books, Oxford.
• Parker-Pearson, M. 1999. The Archaeology of Death and Burial. Sutton, Stroud.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11472

Key words search

Funerary, osteoarchaeology, archaeology, death, burial