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Human Bone Practicals II - ARC00050M

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  • Department: Archaeology
  • Module co-ordinator: Ms. Malin Holst
  • Credit value: 5 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module summary

In this module, we build on the foundations from Human Bones 1 by focusing on what people in the past looked like using measurements, as well as on palaeopathology, with the aim of developing an understanding of skeletal lesions of disease and trauma and how to distinguish these.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2021-22
B Spring Term 2021-22

Module aims

  • To provide hands-on experience of human skeletal anatomy
  • To demonstrate means of determining life information about the individual
  • To give practical experience of the description and differential diagnosis of disease and trauma

Module learning outcomes

  • To make an informed assessment of the information potential and limits of an archaeological human skeleton
  • To be able to make an informed assessment of the life history of a skeletal individual

Module content

This module will provide hands-on experience of human skeletal anatomy, concentrating on more detailed analysis of the skeleton, such as the identification of non-metric traits and metric skeletal analysis.  This module will focus on the identification of skeletal pathology and trauma in particular. 

This module builds on to Human Bones Practicals 1 - it is essential that students choosing HB2 have completed HB1.

Indicative assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Coursework		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

Pass/fail

Indicative reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Coursework		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Feedback will be available within 4 weeks.

Indicative reading

Cox, M. and Mays, S. (eds) 2000. Human Osteology in Archaeology and Forensic Science (London)  

Roberts, C.A. and Manchester, K. 2005.  The Archaeology of Disease (Stroud)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.