Human Osteoarchaeology

MSc Human Osteoarchaeology

Delivery method: Full-time
Course Reference: MSHO

Course Overview

Human skeletal remains can provide abundant information about past human populations, their behaviour and beliefs, their diet and economy, and their lifestyle and health. MSc Human Osteoarchaeology aims to provide practical skills and theoretical understanding essential for the interpretation of human remains from archaeological sites.

The archaeological profession has a need for skilled specialists in the field of human osteoarchaeology to help interpret archaeological sites and understand past human experience. The School of Conservation Science’s combined expertise in the study of human osteology, archaeology, and biological and forensic anthropology enables it to offer a course to meet this need. The course also taps into the range of expertise from the Centre for Archaeology, Anthropology & Heritage and the Centre for Forensic Science.

The course provides a detailed instruction in the identification and analysis of fragmentary human remains, the techniques and methods applied in skeletal analysis, and the means by which to assess pathological conditions affecting the skeleton.

The focus of MSc Human Osteoarchaeology recognises an established pattern within the profession and academia to specialise in one of two osteoarchaeological sub-disciplines: Human or animal remains.

Students experience a wide variety of learning and teaching methods including human osteology and palaeopathology practicals, lectures, workshops, seminars, field trips and individual tutorials. Hands-on experience of analytical techniques and tools is an essential part of our course and Information Technology skills and a professional approach underpin the course. Methods of assessment are also varied and address theoretical issues, practical problems and tasks likely to be encountered in the professional environment.

Coursework will include analysis of human skeletal assemblages, production of professionally-structured reports, essays, oral presentations (in individual or group contexts), practical identification tests and the preparation of specialist assessments and reports based on the student’s own analysis of materials. From this blend of teaching and assessment styles, students gain the confidence and skills to flourish in their chosen profession. The School has a strong research-active academic community with collaborative links to other academic and professional institutions overseas and in the UK. It is part of European Union funded schemes such as Socrates- Erasmus, Tempus and Leonardo adding to the cultural diversity of the School and providing opportunities for overseas study.

Resources
The course is fully supported by extensive technical and scientific facilities available within the School of Conservation Sciences. These include dedicated research and analytical laboratories, with a wide range of instrumentation including a X-ray facility and Scanning Electron Microscope, workshops and layout rooms, a GIS and spatial information suite, map library and a postgraduate student computer laboratory. There is a human osteology laboratory, supported by excellent human skeletal reference materials and archaeological collections of human remains.