AR1FOR: Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death

Module code: AR1FOR

Module provider: Archaeology; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Gundula M£ldner, email: g.h.mueldner@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the archaeological methods and theories employed in the scientific study of the dead, both from modern forensic and older archaeological contexts. You will gain an overview of how humans have buried their dead over time, have the opportunity to analyse skeletal remains, and carry out fieldwork in the form of a cemetery survey, learning how to analyse and interpret these results. Through a series of case studies, you will explore the role of forensic archaeologists and anthropologists (working within the context of the ethics, law and politics) behind the examination of human remains. 

This module will also provide a foundation for the issues and methods explored in Parts 2 and 3 Archaeology modules, including Archaeology and heritage: past, present and future, Forensic Archaeology, Bioarchaeology, Science and the Dead, and Biological Anthropology. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the main methods and theories employed in forensic archaeology, anthropology and the archaeology of death and assess when they may be best employed;
2. Outline the ways in which humans treated the dead varied over archaeological time periods and evaluate the different ways by which archaeologists and anthropologists seek the understand these;
3. Gather original cemetery data through fieldwork and analyse and present these in order to address specific research questions;
4. Critically reflect on the nature of archaeological and forensic evidence for studying the dead and its interpretation.

Module content

This module will outline, through a series of overviews and case studies, the archaeological methods employed in the scientific study of the dead from modern crime scenes and within archaeological contexts. You will explore the role of the forensic archaeologists and forensic anthropologist working within the context of the ethics, law and politics behind the examination of human remains and of the archaeologist exploring death in ancient times. A chronological guide through human burial practices explores how ancient people coped with death and dying, as well as providing a context by which to differentiate ancient from modern in a forensic context. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

You will be taught through a series of well-illustrated lectures and screencasts with two follow-up seminars, and a practical session on skeletal remains. You will be provided with oral feedback during the seminars and practical session, a group feedback session for your Cemetery Survey assignment and opportunity for one-to-one feedback sessions with staff. Guidance on how to carry out the Reading Cemetery Survey and analyse the data will be given in a dedicated Workshop. 

Study hours

At least 25 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs