Aims and Objectives
Aims:
- The programme aims to give graduates from both sciences and arts backgrounds
an introduction to biological archaeology, focusing on the preservation
and identification of organic remains and the application of this information
to examine human subsistence and economy. It will offer hands-on practical
(including field) experience in the study of bioarchaeological materials.
The course draws on the experience of the large number of staff at York
with expertise in the analysis of organic remains. Students will be introduced
to a range of bioarchaeological materials and then will have the opportunity
of working closely with staff on two short training projects before selecting
their dissertation project.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, students should:
- have developed an awareness of the scope of bioarchaeology and be able to
identify common organic remains in the archaeological record
- have become aware of the practicalities, and problems, of interpreting
bioarchaeological remains
- have an understanding of the processes of decay and diagenesis of different
types of biological remains
- through practical classes and short collaborative projects, including
work on excavations, have gained awareness of how organic remains are extracted
prepared, analyzed and interpreted
- through writing essays and producing projects, have developed an ability
to gather and organize information and arguments in a critical and independent
manner
- by reviewing and assessing published work, have gained an awareness of
the use of biological remains to aid interpretation of hunter-gatherer and
agrarian sites, and in understanding socially more complex societies (including
urban ones)
- have undertaken a piece of independent research on a topic within biological
archaeology
- have developed presentational skills through the delivery of seminar papers
on a range of diverse topics
Information supplied by MJC; last updated ARH October 2008
