Bi8612 Human and Comparative osteology

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2022
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)
RNDr. Robin Pěnička, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Arwa Kharobi, PhD (lecturer)
Kévin Alexis André Salesse, M.Sc., 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 13:00–14:50 Bp1,01007
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 bone morphology, they will obtain basic theoretical knowledge and practical skills, which are crucial for examining anthropological 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 should have the theoretical foundations for basic and advanced processing of anthropological and bioarchaeological skeletal findings. 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 (16/9/2022)
  • 2. Bone and tooth histology – terminology, body tissues, inter-species differences, human and non-human hard tissue variations, histomorphometrics – Petra Urbanová (23/9/2022)
  • 3. Taphonomy of skeletal remains – taphonomic modifications, mechanisms of skeletal damage (mechanical, chemical, anthropogenic, zoogenic agents), surface coloring, accidental vs intentional bone damage (fractures, tooth and bite marks), bone fracturing (indices, techniques of determination), secondary bone treatment, ossuaries, commingled bones – Robin Pěnička (30/9/2022)
  • 4. Life (osteo)history – reconstructing individual life and population trajectory – growth and development, developmental instabilities, fluctuating asymmetry, skeletal stress markers, occupational stress markers, enthesopathies, degenerative deceases – Arwa Kharobi (7/10/2022)
  • 5. Odontology – description, phylogenetical and ontogenetical aspects, basic description of teeth types and dentition, inter-species differences and growth, variations, pathologies and development changes – Arwa Kharobi (14/10/2022)
  • 6. Non-metric skeletal traits – varieties, developmental anomalies, congenital pathologies (dysplasia, hypoplasia, aplasia, hypo/hypertrophic traits), importance of non-metric traits in genetic relatedness, and biodistance – Robin Pěnička (21/10/2022)
  • 7. National holiday - 28/10/2022
  • 8. Determining diet from skeletal remains (human, non-human) – stable isotope analysis, food intake, reconstructing ancient diet, metabolic diseases, water resources, cannibalism, weaning – Kevin Salesse (4/11/2022)
  • 9. Paleopathology – trauma analysis, post-traumatic changes, conflict anthropology – Arwa Kharobi (11/11/2022)
  • 10. Paleopathology – infectious diseases - features of infectious disease on the skeleton, non-specific infection and specific infectious diseases (e.g. Leprosy, Tuberculosis), case studies – Arwa Kharobi (18/11/2022)
  • 11. Isotopes – geographic origin, ancestry, migration patterns – Kevin Salesse (25/11/2022)
  • 12. Burned and charred bones – taphonomy, mechanisms of cremation, techniques of examination (volume, sex, age, temperature), evaluating thermal changes in bone and dental tissues, estimating temperature and exposure to heat – Kevin Salesse (2/12/2021)
  • 13. Skeletal remains of historical figures - Petra Urbanová (9/12/2022)
  • 13. Discussions – seminar (16/12/2022)
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
Lectures will be conducted in Czech and English language.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded by a presentation and 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 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2022, recent)
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