Bi5125 Anthropology for Archaeologists

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
0/3/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Eva Drozdová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Romana Sarvašová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Eva Drozdová, Ph.D.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Eva Drozdová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Wed 16:00–18:50 D36/209
Prerequisites
Assumption for study of course of Anthropology for archaeologists is interest in work with human skeletal remains and interest in the specialisation of Anthropology
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 21 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 14/21, only registered: 0/21, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/21
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 67 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
At the end of the course students should be able to understand the human skeletal anatomy and the variability of human bones. They should be able to explain the specificity of skeletal material from archaeological researches.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge of anatomy of human skeleton
Knowledge of handle with human skeletal remains in anthropological laboratory
Knowledge of basic anthropological methods for treating of human skeletal remains.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction - what is anthropology?
  • 2. Skeletal material from burial ground, crypt, charnel-house, recent skeletons. Ethics in dealing with human remains.
  • Basic anatomy of the human skeleton.
  • 3. Microscopic anatomy of the bone. Composition of bone tissue. Types of ossification. Types of bone. The remodeling of bone tissue. Distinction of human and animal bones. Axes and planes. Basic anatomical position.
  • 4. Skull I. Anatomy of neurocranium. Newborn skull, adult skull. Sutures. Variability. Artificial deformation of the skull.
  • 5. Skull II. Anatomy of splanchnocranium. Variability. Auditory ossicles. Hyoid. Ossified laryngeal cartilage. Skull orientation. Frankfurt Horizontal.
  • 6. Dentition. Anatomy of a Tooth. Tooth identification. Differentiation of permanent and deciduous dentition.
  • 7. Axial skeleton. Backbone. Identification of vertebrae. Thorax, identification of ribs and sternum. Sacrum. Identification of fragments. Variability. Siding.
  • 8. Bones of the upper limb. Clavicle, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna. Identification of fragments. Variability. Siding.
  • 9. Carpals, metacarpals, phalanges. Identification of fragments. Variability. Siding.
  • 10. Bones of the lower limb. Pelvic girdle. Femur, patella, tibia, fibula. Identification of fragments. Variability. Siding.
  • 11.Tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges. Identification of fragments. Variability. Siding.
  • 12. Burnt bones.
  • 13. Mummified remains.
  • 14. Working with aDNA. Human genom. DNA - nuclear and mitochondrial. Sampling of human skeletal material for aDNA studies. Conditons of samples storage. Analyses of aDNA - the methods and results.
Literature
  • BASS, William M. Human osteology : a laboratory and field manual. 5th ed. Columbia, Mo.: Missouri Archaeological Society, 2005, xviii, 365. ISBN 9780943414966. info
  • Antropologie :příručka pro studium kostry. Edited by Milan Stloukal. 1. vyd. Praha: Národní muzeum, 1999, 510 s. ISBN 80-7036-101-8. info
Teaching methods
lectures, practical training with human skeletal remains
Assessment methods
oral exam together with practical work with human skeletal material
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 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2023/Bi5125