Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)
Module ARCH51630: IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE NORMAL HUMAN SKELETON
Department: Archaeology
ARCH51630: IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE NORMAL HUMAN SKELETON
| Type | Tied | Level | 4 | Credits | 30 | Availability | Available in 2015/16 | Module Cap |
|---|
| Tied to | F4K809 |
|---|
Prerequisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combination of Modules
- None.
Aims
- To equip students with knowledge of the normal anatomy and physiology of the skeleton so as to be able to recognise abnormal anatomy and to be familiar with basic methods of analysis relevant for human and osteology and palaeopathology.
Content
- The module will cover basic anatomy and physiology of the human skeleton, methods of identifying fragmentary material (including cremated human remains) and estimating minimum numbers of individuals, age and sex estimation methods for adult and non-adult skeletal material, metrical and non-metrical analysis of human remains and osteological methods. The emphasis will be on critical assessment of methods used and data generated within the context of current issues in the study of human remains from archaeological sites.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- Normal human anatomy, methods of age and sex estimation, stature estimation, palaeodemography
Subject-specific Skills:
- Recording of osteological parameters
Key Skills:
- Good knowledge of normal human anatomy and anatomical variation.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Through lecture and laboratory sessions, to allow students to explore practical and theoretical concepts and become familiar with the normal morphological appearance of the skeleton and methods used for analysis.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 | Weekly | 2 hours | 20 | ■ |
| Practicals | 10 | Weekly | 2 hours | 20 | ■ |
| Preparation and Reading | 260 | ||||
| Total | 300 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Essay | Component Weighting: 40% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Essay | 2,500 words | 100% | |
| Component: fragment identification tests | Component Weighting: 10% | ||
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| fragment identification test 1 | 20 min | 50% | |
| fragment identification test 2 | 20 min | 50% | |
| Component: Practical Test | Component Weighting: 50% | ||
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Practical Test | 1 hour | 100% | |
Formative Assessment:
The preparation achieved in the module RSAS that precedes this module is considered to be sufficient formative preparation for the summative assignment in this module.
■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University