Undergraduate Course: Death, Decay and Reconstruction: Discovering past lifeways through Archaeological Human Remains (ARCA10076)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Human remains, including burnt and unburnt skeletal remains as well as bog bodies and mummies, provide the most direct evidence on health, disease, activity, diet, warfare and population relationships in the past. This course aims to introduce the main techniques and principles used in the analysis as well as the contextual interpretation of archaeological human remains. It will apply a thematic approach, illustrated by case studies from diverse chronological periods and geographic locations. What can human remains tells us about childhood in prehistory? About the transition to farming? About warfare and punishment in the Roman Empire? About the life and death of individuals like Ötzi and Tollund Man? And how can we integrate this information meaningfully into its broader archaeological context? Based on lectures, seminars and museum visits, students will learn how to evaluate and integrate osteoarchaeological, palaeopathological and demographic information resulting from the study of human remains, to reach a fuller understanding of the past and comprehensively answer archaeological and historical questions. Students will also explore ethical issues and the value of archaeological human remains in a museum context as well as the importance of communicating the aims and importance of osteoarchaeological research to the wider public. |
| Course description |
Not entered
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Pre-requisites: Archaeology 2A and 2B, or Honours entry to degrees in Classics, or equivalent. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting Students should usually have at least 3 Archaeology courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses.
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1. Reflective Critique - 1500 words (40%)
2. A2 Poster Presentation (40%)
3. Encyclopaedia entry - 500 words (20%): This new assignment will require the students to write a 500 words encyclopaedia entry on a significant skeletal find (individual or assemblage) of their choice |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
| Demonstrate, by way of Encyclopaedia entry, poster presentations and reflective critique, knowledge of osteoarchaeological methods and interpretation as well as issues surrounding the curation and exhibition of human remains in a museum environment; ability to critically assess osteological data and integrate it into wider archaeological analyses.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
On successful completetion of the course, students should be able to:
- gather and critically assess relevant information
- present their ideas and analyses in a coherent fashion to diverse audiences and in a number of different formats.
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| Keywords | Death Decay |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Linda Fibiger
Tel: (0131 6)50 2379
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Amanda Campbell
Tel: (0131 6)50 3782
Email: |
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