Module ANTH2337: Reading the Skeleton

Department: Anthropology

ANTH2337: Reading the Skeleton

Prerequisites

• Human Evolution and Diversity (ANTH1091) OR Organisms and Environment (BIOL1161) OR Scientific Methods in Archaeology 1 (ARCH1041) OR Applied Archaeological Methods (ARCH1081)

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop awareness and understanding of the patterns and processes of morphological variation and diversity in humans and/or other primates
• To introduce and critically evaluate methods in skeletal biology and morphological research
• To provide a critical awareness of the ethical debates in the collection and curation of human remains
• To provide students for Level 3 modules requiring an understanding of human and/or other primate morphology

Content

• Fundamentals of skeletal morphology and variation
• Human and/or non-human primate growth
• Critical awareness of the relationship between colonial legacies and methods applied in biological anthropology

Learning Outcomes

• Factual material: Knowledge of normal skeletal anatomy and an understanding of methods or age, sex, stature and population affinity estimation.
• Theoretical foundations: understanding of concepts of variation and diversity, how variation arises through evolution, functional adaptation, growth and plasticity, with particular reference to humans and/or non-human primates.
• Methodological foundations: knowledge of techniques used in skeletal biology and morphological research.

• Familiarity with the key methods and concepts of morphological diversity and variation, and how they arise through evolution, adaptation, growth and plasticity.
• Understanding of the technical vocabularies of human evolution, morphology, growth and skeletal biology as these apply to anthropology.
• The ability to link morphological variation and diversity in humans and/or primates ('pattern') to the processes that created such diversity.
• Practical skills in the analysis of human morphological variation.
• The ability to critically evaluate arguments and evidence in skeletal morphology research and literature.

• Critical thinking.
• Ability to extract and integrate key concepts from primary research material.
• Written and/or oral communication of difficult concepts.
• Proficiency in identifying key material in the scientific literature.
• Identifying and understanding biases in methods and literature concerning skeletal biology

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures cover subject-specific knowledge.
• Practicals cover subject-specific knowledge and develop key analytical skills.
• Summative assessment comprises a 2000 word or equivalent reflective journal on a current issue relating to the module content (to be agreed with the module tutor).
• The reflective journal may be in the form of writing, vlog, podcast, poster or other agreed with the module tutor.
• Formative assessment will be a 500 word project proposal.
• The module will have its own Learn Ultra site which will ensure that students have access at all times to the course information they require.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative feedback on written assignment.

■ 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