ANTHRO 748 : Human Osteology

Arts

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Advanced method and theory in human osteology. Coursework is a combination of seminars and practical workshops covering the areas of biocultural frameworks, ethics, taphonomy, human identification, dental anthropology, palaeopathology and biomolecular approaches. Work is focused upon method and theory as applied in the southern hemisphere.

Course Overview

This course is designed for those students who ultimately aim to work in fields such as archaeology, forensic science and biological anthropology where it could well be necessary to identify and work with human and animal remains. The emphasis in this paper is on the development of practical skills in the analysis of skeletonised human remains as well as an underlying understanding of the principles involved and the ability to evaluate work in this area whether archaeological or forensic. The aim is to introduce you to the preliminaries of human osteology and to give you sufficient knowledge and experience to recognize when it is possible to identify remains, when it is not possible and when further work needs to be done. There is a focus upon working in the Southern Hemisphere (dealing with high degrees of biological variability, the appropriate use of standards, and consideration of ethics). Classes include a weekly one hour seminar where we explore research in the field and develop an understanding of best practice and a weekly  two hour practical all  held in one three hour session.

Course Requirements

Restriction: ANTHRO 730

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand the nature of bone, cartilage, enamel and joints (Capability 3)
  2. Identify skeletal elements to side (Capability 3)
  3. Understand and distinguish between human and relatively complete animal bones (Capability 3)
  4. Be able to apply the standard methods of ageing, sexing and identification to relatively complete remains (Capability 3 and 4)
  5. Hypothesise and distinguish indicators of taphonomic processes and some basic pathological processes (Capability 4 and 5)
  6. Describe human remains accurately and precisely for archaeological or forensic applications (Capability 6 and 8)
  7. Present and discuss that work in a professional manner in oral and written form (Capability 6 and 7)
  8. Evaluate and apply methods of analysis in a thorough manner (Capability 4 and 5)
  9. Critically evaluate and synthesise published work in the field with a particular focus upon theory, underlying assumptions and interpretation (Capability 4, 5 and 6)
  10. Demonstrate an understanding of ethical and other issues involved in professional work in osteology in the Southern Hemisphere. (Capability 1 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Research 40% Individual Coursework
Discussions 10% Individual Coursework
Case Study 40% Individual Coursework
Presentation 10% Individual Coursework

Next Offered

Semester 1, 2026

Exam Mode

There is no final exam for this course

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lab and seminar, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Discussions and labs  will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Course readings will be available online via a Talis reading list. A lab manual will be downloadable. 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This last year students worked in pairs during the labs rotating each week so by the end of semester everyone had worked with each other.  This was great for the class as a whole but it also presented everyone with the professional experience of discussing and interpreting observations with others. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 29/10/2024 08:52 a.m.