73783 - Anthropology and Biology Applied to Cultural Heritage

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student possesses basic knowledge of human evolution, fossil evidence, and the cultural and technological manifestations of prehistoric humans. In particular, the student understands the issues related to the study of human skeletal remains and is able to grasp their importance within the field of cultural heritage, especially regarding their preservation and enhancement. Furthermore, the student has scientific knowledge of the biodeterioration phenomena associated with the growth of organisms on natural and artificial surfaces in the context of cultural heritage. Through laboratory activities, the student also deepens their understanding of the technical aspects related to the methods of control, monitoring, and intervention against biodeteriogens.

Course contents

Module I – Anthropology Applied to Cultural Heritage (60 hours)
Module I consists of 24 hours of lectures covering the topics outlined in the syllabus. In addition, it includes 36 hours of practical sessions dedicated to the analysis, study, taxonomic identification, assessment, and restoration of osteoarchaeological remains. These practical activities are carried out using a multidisciplinary approach at the Laboratory of Osteoarchaeology and Palaeoanthropology (Bones Lab) of the Department of Cultural Heritage at the University of Bologna.

Throughout the course, students will consolidate knowledge of human evolution, skeletal anatomy and biology, and will explore the fossil record alongside key cultural and technological expressions that have marked the evolution of past human groups and populations. The course will present the methodologies, research aims, and challenges related to anthropology, osteoarchaeology, and taphonomy, with a particular focus on the recognition of human remains in archaeological materials, their study, conservation, safeguarding, and restoration.

The module is structured into three parts:

1. Core research themes in anthropology (12 hours of lectures), with particular attention to human evolution, and the biological and cultural variability and adaptations of past hominin populations; elements of skeletal biology applied to both human and animal remains.
2. General knowledge of osteoarchaeological materials (12 hours of lectures), including conditions of recovery, excavation and study methods, and approaches to the analysis and identification of archaeological skeletal samples, with a focus on taphonomic analysis applicable across different material types.
3. Practical laboratory exercises (36 hours), including observation and taphonomic analysis aimed at identifying human skeletal remains within osteological assemblages from archaeological contexts; reading of physico-mechanical traces; and practical demonstrations of key invasive sampling and physical restoration techniques applied to osteological materials.

Module II – Biology Applied to Cultural Heritage (28 hours)
This module focuses on the study of biological processes affecting archaeological materials and the role of material technologies in shaping human cultural development. It addresses, on one hand, the biodeterioration phenomena that affect lithic artefacts recovered from excavations, and on the other, the production and transformation processes of stone tools throughout human evolution.

Through an integrated approach, students learn to recognise the biological agents responsible for the alteration of materials and to assess their impact on both conservation and archaeological interpretation. At the same time, the course introduces the study of lithic technologies, with specific focus on chaînes opératoires of knapping, raw material selection, and production processes.

Particular emphasis is placed on the recognition of post-depositional modifications and surface patinas, understood as indicators of both preservation conditions and the contextual history of use and discard. Teaching activities include lectures, practical laboratory sessions with comparative lithic collections, and the use of multimedia resources to observe production techniques and degradation phenomena directly.

By the end of the module, students will have acquired fundamental competences to critically analyse lithic artefacts, situate them within the framework of technological evolution, and assess their conservation state—developing an integrated understanding of material production, transformation processes, and the valorisation of cultural heritage.

Readings/Bibliography

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

2) 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.

3) T. White and P. Folkens (2005). The human bone manual. Academic Press.

4) White, T. D., M. T. Black and P. A. Folkens (2011). Human osteology, Academic press.5) H. Duday (2006). Lezioni di archeotanatologia : archeologia funeraria e antropologia di campo. Roma : Soprintendenza archeologica di Roma.

6) MANUALE DI ANTROPOLOGIA - EVOLUZIONE E BIODIVERSITÀ UMANA. A cura di Luca Sineo e Jacopo Moggi Cecchi. UTET 2022

7) Manuale di geoarcheologia, Mauro Cremaschi contr. di C. Baroni, R. Bersezio, C. Ottomano, L. Trombino. Edizione: 2000, VI rist. 2008; Pagine: 392, con ill.; Collana: Manuali Laterza [135]
ISBN carta: 9788842060253; Argomenti: Archeologia

8) Caneva G., Nugari M.P., Salvadori O. La Biologia vegetale per i beni culturali Vol I. Biodeterioramento e conservazione. Nardini editore, 2007

9) Inizan, L., Reduron, M., & Tixie, J. (1999). Knapped Stone Technology and Terminolog y of Knapped Stone.

10) Slides delle lezioni

Teaching methods

The course includes lectures covering the topics outlined in the syllabus, which may be supplemented by seminars focusing on specific themes.
Throughout the course, PowerPoint presentations will be used and made available to students via dedicated online platforms.

Students will also have the opportunity to participate in practical laboratory exercises, which include: access to comparative osteological and taphonomic collections and archaeological materials; the application of methods for the study and restoration of osteological remains; taxonomic and taphonomic analyses of various types of materials recovered during archaeological excavations; and the analysis and interpretation of data using macro- and microscopic investigation tools as well as specialised software. In addition, a comparative lithic collection will be used to support the analysis of production sequences and transformation processes of stone tools.

Assessment methods

Module 1: Students are required to take an oral examination. The final grade is based on the student's scientific and methodological knowledge of the topics covered in all three parts of the module.
Students will also be asked to identify, download, study, and present a scientific article of their choice—either international or national—focusing on osteoarchaeological and taphonomic subjects and/or the restoration of hard animal materials.
Correct use of academic language, critical analysis of the topics discussed, and the ability to establish interdisciplinary connections will also be assessed.

Module 2: Students are required to take an oral examination. The final grade is based on the scientific and methodological knowledge acquired during the course, with particular attention to the ability to recognise and describe the technical sequences of lithic production and the main forms of alteration affecting archaeological materials.

The grade for this module will be considered as part of the overall evaluation together with the grade from Module 1.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be delivered using traditional teaching tools as well as projected PowerPoint slide presentations. Laboratory exercises will be conducted using appropriate materials and equipment.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Romandini

See the website of Giulia Marciani