Bi8612c Comparative osteology - practical training

Faculty of Science
autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Petra Urbanová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
RNDr. Robin Pěnička, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Gabriela Dreslerová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Leslie Quade, MSc, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
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 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 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course aims to widen practical knowledges and experiences of students attending Comparative osteology lecture. Within the course students will be familiarized with methodologies and rules of manipulation with human and animal osteological findings.
Learning outcomes
In the end of the course the students will be able to: - apply basic comparative principles leading to anatomic description and taxonomic determination of documented material, - estimate age accordind to the skeletal samples; - describe basic taphonomic agents forming the taphonomic history of studied archeological site.
Syllabus
  • 1. Comparative osteology: introduction, overview, basic and advanced methods (invasive vs non-invasive, macroscopic vs microscopic etc.) – Petra Urbanová (17/9/2021)
  • 2. Bone and tooth histology – terminology, body tissues, inter-species differences, human and non-human hard tissue variations, histomorphometrics – Petra Urbanová (24/9/2021)
  • 3. Bone taphonomy – mechanisms of skeletal damage, taphonomic factors (physical, chemical, anthropogenic, zoogenic), surface destruction, intentional vs accidental fracturing, coloring – Robin Pěnička (1/10/2021)
  • 4. Skeleton axiale: cranium, ossa trunci: growth and development changes, variations, pathologies – Robin Pěnička (8/10/2021)
  • TEST 1 – a writtten test examining knowledge acquired in classes 1-3
  • 5. Odontology: phylogenetical and ontogenetic aspects, basic description of teeth types and dentition, inter-species differences and growth, variations, pathologies and development changes – Robin Pěnička (15/10/2021)
  • 6. Skeleton axiale: cranium, ossa trunci: phylogenetical and ontogenetical aspects, basic description, inter-species differences and growth and development changes – Gabriela Dreslerová (22/10/2021)
  • 7. Upper limb bone morphology: growth and developmental changes, variations, pathologies, distinguishing among hand bones (carpal, metacarpal, phalanges), differentiating from foot bones – Robin Pěnička (20/11/2020)
  • 8. Upper/Fore-limb bone morphology: basic description, inter-species differences and growth and development changes – Gabriela Dreslerová (5/11/2021)
  • 9. Lower limb bone morphology: growth and developmental changes, variations, pathologies, distinguishing among hand bones (tarsal, metatarsal, phalanges), differentiating from foot bones – Robin Pěnička (12/11/2020)
  • TEST 2 – a writtten test examining knowledge acquired in classes 4-8
  • 10. Lower/Hind-limb bone morphology: basic description, inter-species differences and growth and development changes – Gabriela Dreslerová (19/11/2021)
  • 11. Morphology of burned and charred bones - mechanisms of cremation, techniques of examination (volume, sex, age, temperature), evaluating thermal changes in bone and dental tissues, estimating temperature and exposure to heat - Robin Pěnička (26/11/2021)
  • 12. Animal bone assemblage – practical aspects, interpretation – Gabriela Dreslerová (3/12/2021)
  • 13. Human Bone assemblage – practical aspects, interpretation – Robin Pěnička (10/12/2021)
  • TEST 3 – a writtten test examining knowledge acquired in classes 9-12
Literature
    required literature
  • FRANCE, Diane L. Human and nonhuman bone identification : a color atlas. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, 2009, xvii, 734. ISBN 9781420062861. info
  • HILLSON, Simon. Mammal bones and teeth : an introductory guide to methods of identification. 1st pub. Walnut Creek, Calif.: Left Coast Press, 1992, ix, 64. ISBN 9780905853307. info
  • HILLSON, Simon. Teeth. 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005, xiv, 373. ISBN 0521545498. URL info
  • LYMAN, R. Lee. Vertebrate taphonomy. 1st pub. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994, xxvi, 524. ISBN 0521458404. URL info
  • WHITE, T. D. and Pieter A. FOLKENS. The human bone manual. Boston: Elsevier Academic, 2005, xx, 464. ISBN 0120884674. URL info
    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.
  • Hupková, A., Urbanová, P., Pěnička, R. 2012: Virtuální učebnice pro studium morfologie kostry člověka. Dostupná na: http://anthrop.sci.muni.cz/page.yhtml?id=592
  • Reitz E. J., Wing, E. S. 2008: Zooarchaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/sci/podzim2017/Bi8612/um/atlas_komparativni_osteologie/index.html#authors
Teaching methods
Preparation is conducted in form of practical training. Students (individually or together in small groups) process under the supervision of lectors practical tasks. The course will be conducted in Czech and English language. The classes will be taught in person.
Assessment methods
Credit is awarded based on laboratory protocols and continuous study preparation on the training, which will be examined by three written tests (20-30 questions, >60% to pass the test).
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 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (autumn 2021, recent)
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