| CODE | ARC5010 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Osteoarchaeology | ||||||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Classics and Archaeology | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Osteoarchaeology is the identification, analysis and interpretation of bone material recovered during archaeological excavations. The study-unit provides training in bone identification and analysis, and explores the intrinsic potential and problems associated with such material. The emphasis of the study-unit will be on human bones. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit will provide students with a thorough grounding in the analytical approaches to bone identification, and to the wider social, cultural and economic issues raised through the interpretation of archaeological bone assemblages. Hands-on laboratory sessions are combined with traditional classroom teaching to enable students to develop a working knowledge of osteoarchaeology (with an emphasis on human bones) and its methods within the context of modern research and rescue archaeology. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - identify and interpret bone remains from archaeological sites; - engage in theoretical and methodological discussions relevant to osteoarchaeology; - identify bones through hands-on practical sessions; - reconstruct individual traits (age, sex, size, etc); - evaluate cultural-historical interpretations of archaeological bone assemblages. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - prepare technical reports for different investigative scenarios; - application of theory to practice through practical sessions; - develop hypothesis testing skills; - carry out relevant analyses, often in cooperation with experts in other disciplines; - design research strategies providing a basis for advanced studies. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - White, T.D. 2000. Human Osteology. 2nd edn. Kluwer Academic. - Parker-Pearson, M. 2003. The Archaeology of Death and Burial. History Press. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Practicum, Seminar & Visit | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Bernardette Mercieca Nicholas Vella |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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