25547 - Archaeoanthropology

Learning outcomes

The course deals with the contribution of technical-scientific methods necessary to reconstruct the anthropological characteristics, life conditions and health of individual specimens and ancient populations through the study of human skeletal remains and other archaeoanthropological finds. The student is able to identify and classify the anthropological finds coming from an archaeological excavation, detect pathologies and use all the data to come to an historical, social, deomographic, environmental and palaeonutritional overview.

Course contents

The course is divided into two parts: a first part dealing with the general principles about the types of osteoarchaeological materials, conditions and techniques of excavation and recovery of the remains; a second part on technical and methodological tools to analyse specimens and to collect and analyse data, along with experimental lab activities. 1) Osteoarchaeological remains: skeletal specimens; types of graves and burials; inhumation graves; incineration remains; cremation methods; elements of skeletal taphonomy and archaeology of death; techniques of excavation and recovery of materials; in situ observations and measurements; preparation and compilation of archaeoanthropological forms; osteological restoration techniques. 2) Elements of skeletal biology: morphology and osteometry; teeth and development of the dental apparatus; macro- and micromorphological signs of age and estimation of age-at-death; sexual dimorphism and sex diagnosis; palaeodemographic estimations; identification and recording of anomalies and pathological and traumatic lesions of the skeleton; skeletal and dental indicators of environmental, biomechanical and nutritional stress; palaeonutritional analyses and reconstruction of the diet; general principles of virtual osteology and osteometry by means of digital 3D models; archaeogenetic investigations of DNA extracted from specimens; reconstruction of the physical and demographic characteristics and the lifestyle and subsistence models of ancient populations by means of biostatistical methods.

Readings/Bibliography

Book

S. Minozzi, A. Canci: Archeologia dei resti umani. Dallo scavo al laboratorio. Carocci ed., Roma, 2015.

 

Optional

Nikita E (2017). Osteoarchaeology: A Guide to the Macroscopic Study of Human Skeletal Remains. Elsevier Science Publishing Co Inc.

Eline M. J. Schotsmans, Nicholas Márquez‐Grant, Shari L. Forbes (editors, 2017). Taphonomy of Human Remains: Forensic Analysis of the Dead and the Depositional Environment. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

F. Mallegni, B. Lippi (a cura di): Non omnis moriar. CISU, Roma, 2009.

M.Y. Iscan and K.A.R. Kennedy (Eds): Reconstruction of Life from the Skeleton. Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York, 1989.

A. Stirland: Human Bones in Archeology. Shire Publications, Aylesbury, 1999.

D.H. Ubelaker: Human Skeletal Remains: Excavation, Analysis, Interpretation. Taraxacum, Washington, 1999.

T.D. White and A.F. Pieter: Human Osteology, Academic Press, San Diego, 2000.

Teaching methods

The course consists of frontal lectures related to the topics of the programme that can be supplemented by seminars on specific topics. During the course PowerPoint presentations will be used, which will be supplied to the students by means of dedicated online platforms. Finally, students will have the opportunity to undertake practical laboratory exercises, involving the application of osteological techniques to materials retrieved from archaeological excavations, and the analysis and interpretation of data using suitable computer programs.

Assessment methods

The final exam consists in an oral examination on the whole programme, which can be sustained from the first useful scheduled exam after the end of the lessons, concerning the topics indicated in the course programme. At the begin of the exam, the student may propose to discuss about a specific topic, followed by further questions aimed at verifying the overall preparation.

The final vote of the exam is based on the scientific and methodological knowledge of the student on the arguments discussed during the exam. Moreover, correct use of language, coupled with critical examination of the covered topics and interdisciplinary linkage, will be also evaluated.

Students not attending. The program of the course is the same for both students attending and not attending. Owing to the nature of the course, frequency of the lessons is strongly recommended. However, students who for valid reasons cannot attend the course are invited to contact the teacher, during the office hours, for the suggestion of potential supplementary texts.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be given with the assistance of traditional supports, as well as slide and computer projections. Laboratory exercises will be carried out with suitable materials and instruments.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Benazzi