MSC PROFESSIONAL HUMAN OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY

Title:

In at the Deep End: Professional Practice

Code:

ARMEPP

Convenor:

PROF Mary Lewis

Summary:

This unique module prepares you for the reality of working on a modern archaeological site as a professional osteoarchaeologists. You will learn about burial legislation, ethics and health and safety aspects of working as a professional. It takes a ‘forensic’ style approach to the understanding how to excavate human skeletal remains, supervise cemetery excavations and make quick decisions about excavation and sampling strategies. You will be introduced to the roles of other professionals that work on-site, how to work with clients, tender and to make well-reasoned recommendations to those in the commercial and academic heritage sectors. You will be introduced to the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Management of Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE) and associated professional standards (by CIfA, and BABAO). It also explores other job roles including working for museums as educators and curators of human remains. You will meet a variety of specialists working in Museums, Units, and Government agencies through guest lectures and site visits.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 80%, Oral 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Issues and Debates in Bioarchaeology

Code:

ARMIDB

Convenor:

DR Gundula Müldner

Summary:

This module provides graduate students with a conceptual understanding of human bioarchaeology that enables them to evaluate the nature of the evidence used in the discipline, to critically assess methodologies and evaluate their appropriateness for different research questions.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Oral 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Statistical Approaches: Making sense of your data

Code:

ARMSAS

Convenor:

DR Rob Hosfield

Summary:

This module teaches quantitative analytical methods appropriate to archaeological data, techniques and approaches. The module aims to familiarise you with statistical techniques and principles applicable to both single and multiple variable data-sets. The module will familiarise you with standard statistical packages, and data management and presentation techniques. The module is team-taught, using a mixture of lectures and practicals, with in-class problems and exercises. The module is fully coursework assessed. 

Assessment Method:

Report 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Science and the Dead

Code:

ARMSTD

Convenor:

DR Gundula Müldner

Summary:

Understanding of taphonomy and biomolecular methods which are now being routinely applied in burial archaeology are essential for any archaeologist specialising in the study of human remains. This module was designed for graduate students with an interest in the scientific analysis of human remains to provide them with an understanding of the key biomolecular methods that are currently employed by modern archaeology to reconstruct the living from the dead.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Research Project

Code:

ARMRPP

Convenor:

PROF Mary Lewis

Summary:

This module comprises a series of Dissertation workshops, a Masters Conference and a sustained period of independent supervised research in the writing of a Masters Level Dissertation.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 5%, Oral 5%, Dissertation 90%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Musculo-Skeletal Anatomy

Code:

ARMMSA

Convenor:

PROF Mary Lewis

Summary:

This module introduces the musculoskeletal system, dental anatomy, skeletal development, and how the action of the soft tissues (muscle, tendons and ligaments) produce the characteristic morphology of individual bones.  You will gain comprehensive knowledge to enable you to accurately identify complete and fragmentary adult and child skeletal remains from archaeological contexts, and become familiar with anatomical terms and names of structures. This detailed knowledge of the human skeleton builds up over the module with regular marked assessments and feedback sessions.

Assessment Method:

Class test 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Palaeopathology in Adults and Children

Code:

ARMPAC

Convenor:

PROF Mary Lewis

Summary:

An analysis of trauma and disease within a skeletal sample is a critical element of any archaeological cemetery investigation. This module provides critical skills needed for human osteologists to fully interpret the skeletal data. You will learn to identify and address key archaeological questions for inclusion in specialist reports and for primary research projects. The module covers a variety of conditions and how they are differently expressed in adult and child remains. The focus on child skeletal remains is a unique aspect of this module.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Report 20%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Analysis of Human Remains

Code:

ARMAHR

Convenor:

PROF Mary Lewis

Summary:

This highly practical module provides the essential methods and skills you will need for the advanced study of human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts. You will apply the most recent approaches used to assess sex, age, stature, handedness, ancestry, and parity in adult skeletal remains, as well as learn a broad range of metrical and non-metrical measures in both adults and children. The specific techniques required to analyse non-adult human remains will be explored. The history, development and limitations of each method will be outlined through a series of fully-illustrated lectures and reinforced during the practical class.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 30%, Report 70%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.