MSc in Bioarchaeology

Course director: Dr Oliver Craig

 

Overview

The MSc in Bioarchaeology provides advanced training in human osteoarchaeology (from both a research and commercial perspective) coupled with an unparallelled access to training in the study of ancient biomolecules through access to world-class facilities at the BioArCh centre (stable isotopes, lipid residue analysis, palaeoproteomics) and the Department of Biology (ancient DNA).

Uniquely, students can combine bioarchaeology with a range of subjects and tailor their degree towards their own interests.  These could include a 'period' focus, for example, to specialise in the bioarchaeology of the Medieval,  Vikings, Mesolithic  or early prehistoric periods. Alternatively, human bioarchaeology can be combined with  zooarchaeology and orientated towards more advanced studies of bone function and anatomy by taking modules at the medical school in Hard Tissue Biology and/or Functional and Musculoskeletal Anatomy.

Students will join a motivated team of post-graduate researchers based primarily at the BioArCh centre, but will have the opportunity to carry out projects with archaeologists at King's Manor and researchers in Biology, Environment and at the Hull-York Medical School, under the umbrella of the new inter-diciplinary centre,  Palaeo: Centre for Human Palaeoecology & Evolutionary Origins. 

 

 

Staff

Staff

Associated Staff

Facilities

The MSc in Bioarchaeology benefits from its twin locations in the Kings Manor and S-Block, our campus-based science facility:

The King's Manor houses specialist laboratories for:

Osteology teaching laboratory:

  • human and animal reference collections
  • extensive human skeletal collections from Neolithic to Post-medieval periods (available for study)
  • digital x-ray facilities
  • cutting edge tools for morphometrics, imaging and functional simulation (with HYMS)

S-Block and our BioArCh laboratories offer:

  • Dedicated laboratory for bone preparation (bone saws, drills etc).
  • Gas Chromatography
  • State-of-the art optical microscopy
  • 100 m2 of preparative laboratories
  • Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy
  • State-of-the-art protein mass spectrometry
  • NERC-recognised amino acid dating facility
  • ZooMS bone identification service
  • state-of-the art Ancient DNA facility (housed in its own building in the Walled Garden)
  • Thin sectioning equipment

The following range of facilities is available for all students undertaking an Archaeology Masters programme:

  • Dedicated IT suite with a full range of software including generic and specialist archaeological packages and computing support from two highly experienced experimental officers
  • A wide range of lab facilities for archaeological analysis including environmental and artefact processing as well as the bioarchaeological facilities on campus
  • A well stocked library with access to electronic resources, and study areas both in the Kings Manor library and the library on campus
  • The Kings Manor includes a common room and refectory open to all staff and students, and WiFi is available across the Kings Manor
  • A comprehensive range of state-of-the-art field survey equipment which postgraduates can normally use for their project work (and can gain experience with via the skills modules we offer)

Structure

Structure

Over the autumn and spring terms you will take:

  • two core 20 credit modules
  • two option 20 credit modules
  • four 5 credit skills modules

In the summer you will carry out research for your dissertation and give an Assessed Lecture on your dissertation topic.

Core modules

Recommended option modules

Recommended skills modules

Whilst we endeavour to give everyone their first choice on modules, please note that this cannot always be guaranteed. Please be aware that certain skills modules are required by particular programmes, and so may be more over-subscribed than others.  Please see the Full modules list for scheduling information on option and skills modules, as some run concurrently.

Example of Previous Dissertations

  • Low collagen bone from Herculaneum, an integrated isotopic and proteomic analysis
  • Early Christian diets in a Pictish Monastery
  • Studying wolverine populations using ancient DNA
  • Investigating population replacement at the transition to agriculture through ancient DNA analysis
  • Using Transmission Electron Microscopy to reveal evidence of early cooking
  • A novel method for estimating age at death
  • The application of ZooMS to the identification of archaeological fish remains
  • Iodine as a tracer of marine diet in enamel

Entry

You will need:

  • A good honours degree (upper second or first) or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution in archaeology, anthropology, biology or related fields
  • Or, in the case of mature students who might not have conventional qualifications, appropriate relevant experience.

Apply now

First, check our How to apply page, which explains what information the Department needs from you.

Careers

Molecular methods are increasingly widely used in archaeology, but the range of osteological and molecular skills means that the course is suitable for a wide range of careers.

By the end of the course you will:

  • be able to identify and record human bone assemblages
  • be able to age, sex and assess pathologies from human bones
  • have knowledge of advanced methods for analysis of bone tissues, including biomolecular methods
  • know when to apply chemical and biomolecular methods to skeletal material
  • have knowledge of the processes of decay and diagenesis of bone tissue
  • be able to critically evaluate published research and datasets
  • be able to orally present knowledge and concepts
  • be able to work effectively within an laboratory environment
  • be able to plan, design and undertake a piece of independent research
  • have participated in research seminar and visiting speakers programmes (archaeology and biology

 

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During my project, I studied burials from Herculaneum and gained experience of stable isotope and amino acid analysis as well as protein mass spectrometry

Rose Monachino