Bi8612 Comparative osteology

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Petra Urbanová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Gabriela Dreslerová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Daniel Angelo Gaudio, PhD (lecturer)
RNDr. Robin Pěnička, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Leslie Quade, MSc, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Petra Urbanová, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Petra Urbanová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Fri 8:00–9:50 prace doma
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Students attending this course will be able to understand human and animal bone morphology, they will obtain basic theoretical knowledge and practical skills, which are crucial for examining anthropological and archaeozoological aspects of osteological findings. Furthermore, the students will be introduced to more specialized methods applicable to osteological findings (e.g., isotope analysis).
Learning outcomes
After concluding this course, students will be able to distinguish between human and animal bones based on their biological characteristics, to make an anatomical description and side-determination, and in the case of animal bones to classify them according to species (a special attention will be paid to wild and domestic species which are most frequently occurring in the archaeological record). In addition, students ought to be able to differentiate morphological and structural variations in osteological findings and to determine the origin of such variations.
Syllabus
  • 1. Comparative osteology: introduction, overview, basic and advanced methods (invasive vs non-invasive, macroscopic vs microscopic etc.) – Petra Urbanová (9/10/2020)
  • 2. Bone and tooth histology – terminology, body tissues, inter-species differences, human and non-human hard tissue variations, histomorphometrics – Petra Urbanová (16/10/2020)
  • 3. Skeleton axiale: cranium, ossa trunci: phylogenetical and ontogenetical aspects, basic description, inter-species differences and growth and development changes – Gabriela Dreslerová (23/10/2020)
  • 4. Skeleton axiale: cranium, ossa trunci: growth and development changes, variations, pathologies – Daniel Gaudio (30/10/2020)
  • 5. Odontology: phylogenetical and ontogenetical aspects, basic description of teeth types and dentition, inter-species differences and growth and development changes – Robin Pěnička (6/11/2020)
  • 6. Upper/Fore-limb bone morphology: basic description, inter-species differences and growth and development changes – Gabriela Dreslerová (13/11/2020)
  • 7. Upper limb bone morphology: growth and development changes, variations, pathologies – Daniel Gaudio (20/11/2020)
  • 8. Lower/Hind-limb bone morphology: basic description, inter-species differences and growth and development changes – Gabriela Dreslerová (27/11/2020)
  • 9. Lower limb bone morphology: growth and development changes, variations, pathologies – Daniel Gaudio (4/12/2020)
  • 10. Bone assemblage – practical aspects: formation, taphonomy, interpretation – Gabriela Dreslerová (11/12/2020)
  • 11. Human bone assemblage – practical aspects: formation, taphonomy, interpretation – Daniel Gaudio (8/1/2021)
  • 12. Bone assemblage – advanced examination methods – Daniel Gaudio (15/1/2021)
Literature
    required literature
  • France, D. 2008: Human and nonhuman bone identification. BocaRaton: CRC Press.
  • Lyman, R. L.2008: Quantitative paleozoology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Hillson, S. 2005: Teeth. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Kolda, J. 1951: Osteologický atlas. Praha.
  • White, T. D., Folkens, P. A. (eds.) 2005: The human bone manual. Boston: Elsevier Academic Press.
    recommended literature
  • Adams, J. B., Crabtree, P. J. 2008: Comparative skeletal anatomy: A photographic atlas for medical examiners, coroners, forensic anthropologist and archeologist. New York: Springer.
  • Reitz E. J., Wing, E. S. 2008: Zooarchaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Lyman, R. L. 1994: Vertebrate taphonomy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • BÖKÖNYI, Sándor. History of domestic mammals in central and eastern Europe. Translated by Lili Halápy. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1974, 596 s. ISBN 9630502518. info
  • Davis S.J.M. The Archaeology of Animals. B.T. Batsford Ltd London, 1987. ISBN 0713445718. info
  • The archaeology of animal bones
Teaching methods
On-line lectures presented using interactive MS Teams tools, accompanied by class discussions. Lectures will be conducted in Czech and English language.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded by a written exam. To pass the exam successfully the student must prove theoretical knowledge and practical skills of the issues discussed according the syllabus.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2020, recent)
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