ANTHRO 235
The Anthropology of Human Remains
Please note: this is archived course information from 2018 for ANTHRO 235.
Description
Human remains reflect the lives of the dead as well as the lives of those who buried them. In this course you will be introduced to the various ways in which we study the dead. The course will cover three areas: the interpretation of mortuary practices, the interpretation of past lives from human remains and the practice of burial archaeology in the southern hemisphere.
This course is an introduction to the field of human-focused bioarchaeology and is focused upon giving you the skills to observe, analyse and interpret mortuary remains (burials and their contents). It is co-taught with ANTHRO 367 and is designed for students continuing in biological anthropology and archaeology. In lab sessions we will concentrate upon your field observations, presenting and discussing results of those observations, developing research skills, working out how to interpret those observations using current theories.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the tools to:
- Explain the limitations and promises of the analysis of human remains
- Explain analyses of human remains and mortuary practice identifying the difference between observations and interpretation and the role of theory
- Make your own observations and then interpret using a theoretical framework
- Present your work to others in a coherent and professional fashion
- Master and demonstrate research skills including searching for sources of data
- Be able to identify and explain research and concepts relevant to course content
Availability 2018
Semester 2
Lecturer(s)
Lecturer(s) Professor Judith Littleton
Points
ANTHRO 235: 15 points
Prerequisites
15 points in Anthropology or 60 points passed
Restrictions
ANTHRO 367