ARMAHR-Analysis of Human Remains

Module Provider: Archaeology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Prof Mary Lewis
Email: m.e.lewis@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This highly practical module provides the essential methods and skills you will need for the advanced study of human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts. You will apply the most recent approaches used to assess sex, age, stature, handedness, ancestry, and parity in adult skeletal remains, as well as learn a broad range of metrical and non-metrical measures in both adults and children. The specific techniques required to analyse non-adult human remains will be explored. The history, development and limitations of each method will be outlined through a series of fully-illustrated lectures and reinforced during the practical class.

Aims:

This module will provide you with the professional techniques you require to practice human osteology for both commercial units and during primary research.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Assessable outcomes

At the end of the module you will have gained:

• a comprehensive and systematic understanding of limitations and advantages of osteological techniques


• skills to accurately assign sex, age, stature and other estimates to adult skeletal remains


• skills to accurately record age and other estimates to non-adult skeletal remains


• the ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate your conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences


• the ability to evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in human osteology, to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses.


• a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights regarding skeletal evidence and how it can be used to infer mortuary behaviour as well as aspects of the life of past societies

Additional outcomes:

The laboratory practicals are designed to develop osteological skills and to reinforce information and practices outlined in the lectures through problem-based learning. You will learn to work effectively both independently, and in groups to gain information from human skeletal material. 

Outline content:

Lectures and practicals will cover: sex assessment in adults and non-adults; ageing adults and non-adults; stature and body mass; handedness and fluctuating/directional asymmetry; growth and development; parity; ancestry; puberty; cremations and report writing.

Global context (where appropriate)

The methods you will use have been developed by North American and European anthropologists. The special significance of international standards for assessing the biological identity of individuals from different geographical regions will be emphasised.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Each session will comprise a 1.5-hour introductory lecture followed by a 2.5 hour practical where methods outlined in the lecture will be applied to an adult skeleton. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	16.5
Practicals classes and workshops	25
Supervised time in studio/workshop	11
Guided independent study:	147.5
Total hours by term	201
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	30
Report	70

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

You will be expected to produce a concise 'professional' human skeletal report as part of your vocational development (4000 words max). This will comprise data for one skeleton based on your assessment and a compilation of data from the rest of the skeletons analysed by the group. You will also be required to submit a short essay critique of a particular osteological method based on key publication (2500 words max). 

Formative assessment methods:

In each of the practical sessions you will be tested on your knowledge of human skeletal anatomy and use of terminology through informal discussions with the demonstrators and lecturer. In this way you will be provided with immediate feedback on your progression, and ways in which you can improve your skills. You will learn how to work both independently (through production of your report) and as part of a team. 

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50%

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of coursework in September.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 22 September 2022