AR2BIO: Bioarchaeology

Module code: AR2BIO

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

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Aleks Pluskowski, email: a.g.pluskowski@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: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will introduce you to the key methods employed in the examination of human and animal skeletal remains from archaeological sites and utilise skeletal collections held by the Department of Archaeology. You will learn about the roles of the osteoarchaeologist and how to identify, record and analyse human and non-human skeletal remains.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Evaluate the nature and quality of skeletal evidence from a range of species, including identifying fragments of human and non-human bone from archaeological contexts
2. Record, quantify and assess age-at-death of faunal skeletal remains
3. Describe burial contexts
4. Compile skeletal inventories and carry out assessments of age-at-death, sex and stature on adult human skeletal remains, and age on non-human skeletal remains

Module content

This module will cover the principles of skeletal bioarchaeology, including:

1. The aims of skeletal bioarchaeology and its place in modern archaeology;
2. Identify, siding, describing and recording of human and non-human skeletal remains;
3. Application of general osteological techniques (sexing, ageing, stature) to human skeletal remains;
4. Applications of zoning and ageing faunal remains.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught in a combination of lectures, laboratory sessions and practical exercises with opportunities for interaction and discussions.

Study hours

At least 33 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.

Informal feedback that will enable you to gauge your progress will be provided throughout the practical sessions.

Reassessment

Additional costs