ARCH07017 2013 OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY AND HUMAN EVOLUTION
Full Title
OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY AND HUMAN EVOLUTION
Transcript Title
OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY
Code
ARCH07017
Attendance
N/A %
Subject Area
ARCH - Archaeology
Department
ESCI - Environmental Science
Level
07 - NFQ Level 7
Credit
05 - 05 Credits
Duration
Semester
Fee
€
Start Term
2013 - Full Academic Year 2013-14
End Term
9999 - The End of Time
Author(s)
Billy Fitzgerald, Fiona Beglane
Programme Membership
SG_SAPPL_H08 201300 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Archaeology
SG_SAPPL_B07 201700 Bachelor of Science in Applied Archaeology
SG_SAPPL_H08 201700 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Archaeology
Description
This module introduces students to the basic principles of osteoarchaeology and of human evolution.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;
1.
Explain the basic principles on which osteoarchaeology and the study of human evolution are based.
2.
Demonstrate an understanding of the practical procedures of determining age, sex, stature and pathologies in human remains.
3.
Analyse, evaluate and draw conclusions from data obtained in the laboratory and/or data presented in problem-solving exercises.
4.
Define the principal methods used in osteology and the study of human evolution.
5.
Organise and integrate theoretical and practical concepts presented into an overall view of osteology and human evolution and explain the major applications in interpreting archaeological sites and past societies.
6.
Effectively communicate scientific principles to a peer audience.
7.
Describe case studies of the application of osteology and studies of human evolution in interpreting past societies.
Module Assessment Strategies
50% of the assessment will be based on practical laboratory skills. This will ensure relevance to the world of archaeological consulting and research. The exam is designed to test the ability of the student to retain and to express the information gained during the course, while continuous assessment will provide ongoing opportunities to demonstrate the learning outcomes.
Module Dependencies
Co-requisites
None
Incompatibles
None
Indicative Syllabus
Human anatomy
Field methods, health and safety and legal issues
Ethics in human remains
Age, sex and stature of children and adults
Diet and its effect on the skeleton
Disease
Trauma and injury
Warfare and violence
Theory of evolution
Background to human evolution
Primates, Australopithecines, Homo habilis, Homo Erectus
Post-erectus hominids including Neanderthals
Modern humans
What makes us human?
Coursework & Assessment Breakdown
Coursework & Continuous Assessment
70 %
End of Semester / Year Formal Exam
30 %
Coursework Assessment
| Title | Type | Form | Percent | Week | Learning Outcomes Assessed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lab Practical | Continuous Assessment | UNKNOWN | 50 % | OnGoing | 2,3,5,7 |
| 2 | Continuous Assessment | Continuous Assessment | UNKNOWN | 20 % | OnGoing | 1,3,4,5,6,7 |
End of Semester / Year Assessment
| Title | Type | Form | Percent | Week | Learning Outcomes Assessed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Final Exam Written exam | Final Exam | UNKNOWN | 30 % | End of Term | 1,2,3,4,5,7 |
Full Time Mode Workload
| Type | Location | Description | Hours | Frequency | Avg Workload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | Science Laboratory | Lecture - Archaeology Lab | 2 | Weekly | 2.00 |
| Laboratory Practical | Science Laboratory | Practical - Archaeology lab | 2 | Weekly | 2.00 |
| Independent Learning | UNKNOWN | Self study | 3 | Weekly | 3.00 |
Total Full Time Average Weekly Learner Contact Time 4.00 Hours
Module Resources
Non ISBN Literary Resources
Bass, W. (2005) Human Osteology: A laboratory and field manual. Missouri, Missouri Archaeological Society
Campbell B. (1998) Human Evolution. New York, Aldine de Gruyter
Mays, S. (2010). The archaeology of human bones. London, Routledge.
Abrahams P, Marks S, Hutchings (2008) McMinn's Color Atlas of Human Anatomy. Elsevier, London
Johanson D and Edgar B (2006) From Lucy to Language. Simon and Schuster, California
Parker Pearson M. (2002) The archaeology of death and burial. Stroud, Sutton
Stirland, A. (1999) Human bones in archaeology Haverfordwest, Shire Books
Other Resources
None
Additional Information
Timetable as a 4 hour block in the archaeology lab (theory and practical) to maximise interactive mode of delivery of theory and practical and allow access to replica materials.