87587 - BIOLOGY FOR BIOARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

At the end of the course the student will acquire: scientific and technical knowledge of the biological materials of the archaeological contexts and in particular of the skeletal remains; knowledge of bone and bone modification by taphonomic processes; scientific and technical knowledge of the methods and techniques to study ancient DNA; knowledge of the techniques for the extraction and amplification of DNA recovered from ancient biological samples; scientific and technical knowledge to face the problems connected to biological growth on natural and artificial stone materials constituting cultural heritage; knowledge of organisms developing on stone materials; connection among organisms, ecosystems and cultural heritage; monitoring and definition of conservation interventions.

Contenuti

The course consists of three modules:

1. Study, Degradation and Intervention on bioarchaeological materials

2. Ancient DNA

3. Biodeterioration of stone materials and control methods of the biodeteriogens

Each module consists of:

• 3 CFU of frontal lessons (18 hours)
• 1 CFU of laboratory (12 hours)

The program of the modules 1 and 2 refers to the state of conservation of the human skeletal remains in archaeological contexts and to the ancient DNA.

 

The lessons of the module 3 precede those of the module 1 and 2.

 

The program of the module 1 is:

Bioarchaeology and human skeletons (bones and teeth); Human skeletal biology; Skeletal tissues and bone anatomy; Taphonomy and state of conservation of the skeletal remains; Different state of conservation and funerary rituals; Different state of conservation of the the skeletal remains coming from archaeological and museal collections; Laboratory procedures and reports; Restoration of the human skeletal remains; Case studies.

The course provides practical laboratory lessons where students will be able to observe the different state of conservation of the fragmented bones (peri mortem and post mortem lesiones) and to do some practice on the restoration of the human skeletal remains.

 

The program of the module 2 is:

The biomolecules in archaeological samples. General principles of cell biology. The genome; DNA: structure and function. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. The genetic code. The mechanisms of replication, transcription and translation of DNA. Mutation and genetic polymorphisms for study of the variability of the human genome. Ancient DNA analysis, preservation and decay of ancient DNA; contamination; sources of ancient DNA in archaeological specimens; the recovery and the choice and the suitable samples; technical challenges. Laboratory methodologies: DNA extraction, horizontal electrophoresis on agarose gel, PCR and Real Time PCR, sequencing. Applications: study of the origin and diffusion of modern humans and relationship with other hominids, determination of sex, personal identification, determination of family relationships, identification of animal and plant species, analysis of phylogenetic relationships and genetic continuity, identification of specific infectious or hereditary diseases.

The course provides practical laboratory lessons where students will be able to perform some molecular techniques such as the extraction and amplification of DNA from biological samples (buccal mucosa, plant samples, bioarchaeological remains).

 

The program of the module 3 is:

Basic principles of biochemistry and biology. Ecology. Bioreceptivity of natural and artificial stones including wall paintings. Limiting factors of biological growth: pH, light, temperature, water, eutrophication of the substrates, pollution. Morphological, structural, physiological, and reproductive characteristics of: bacteria (cyanobacteria, heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes); algae; fungi; lichens (epilitihic and endolitihic crustose lichens, foliose lichens, fruticose lichens); bryophytes; vascular plants. Biofilms. Calcium oxalate films. Mechanical and chemical processes of degradation caused by biodeteriogens. Prevention of biological growth in indoor and outdoor environments. Control methods of biodeterioration: physical eradication; mechanical and water-based control methods; biocides (active ingredients, coformulates, lethal dose, lethal concentration, technical data sheet);toxicity and legislative regulations; mechanisms of antimicrobial action of biocides.

The laboratory practice foresees: Sampling of different biodeteriogens growing on stone; Observation of samples under the stereomicroscope (The observation is carried out directly on samples); Making a cross-section starting from the sample; Observation of cross-sections and glass slides under the optical microscope (visible and UV lights); Observation of Petri dishes and microbiological colonies.

Testi/Bibliografia

Module 1

White T, Folkens PA (2005) Human bone manual. Elsevier Academic Press.

Schotsmans EMJ, Marquez-Grant N, Forbes SL (2017) Taphonomy of human remains. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Module 2

Brown T and Brown K (2011) Biomolecular archaeology. An introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.

Module 3

Caneva G, Nugari MP, Salvadori O (editors) (2008). Plant Biology for Cultural Heritage: Biodeterioration and Conservation. The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, USA.

Pinna D. (2017) Coping with biological growth on stone heritage objects: methods, products, applications, and perspectives. Apple Academic Press, Waretown, USA.

Biology:

Miller K.R. and Levine J.S. (2008) Prentice Hall Biology. Pearson Publisher.

Raven P., Johnson G.B., Mason K.A., Losos J.B., Singer S.S. Biology. McGraw Hill Education editions.

 

Details about the use of these manuals will be provided during the course.

The slide of the courses wil be provided throughout the list of distribution or https://iol.unibo.it/.

Scientific papers about the topics of the course may be provided during classes.

Metodi didattici

The first part of the course is:

Biodeterioration of stone materials and control methods of the bioderiogens.

• the frontal and laboratory lessons will be held at Ravenna.

The second part of the course is:

Study, Degradation and Intervention on bioarchaeological materials

• the frontal lessons will be held at Ravenna and two laboratories at Bologna.

The third part of the course is:

Molecular analysis on bioarchaeological materials.

• the frontal and laboratory lessons will be held at Ravenna.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

The final exam consists of a discussion on the topics covered in class, aimed at the evaluation of the theoretical knowledge acquired during the course, the possession of a specific language and the acquisition of an organic vision of the topics covered in class.

Even though the course is organized in three different parts the exam will be unique and held by the three teachers in the same day. Each teacher will ask at least one or two questions and the final grade will be an average of the grade of the different questions.

The students has to be prepared on the topics covered in the three modules. If he/she completely fails also in one of them, he/she  should repeat the whole examination.

The exam has the aim to evaluate the reaching of the teaching purposes. To give the final vote the teachers will evaluate:
the level of preparation on the topics covered during the course in each module and the clarity and properties of scientific language.

Good or excellent grades can be achieved by students who demonstrate a critical knowledge of the subject, who are able to apply theoretical concepts to practical examples and make use of an appropriate language. Mostly mnemonic knowledge, limited abilities of synthesis and analysis and imprecise language lead to grades ranging from discrete to sufficient. Important gaps, inappropriate language, lack of an overview of the topics covered will inevitably lead to a barely adequate grade or to a negative evaluation.

 

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Computer projector, PC, overhead projector, laboratory hands-on

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Maria Giovanna Belcastro

Consulta il sito web di Alessandra Modi

Consulta il sito web di Daniela Pinna