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    Overview

    An introduction to human bioarchaeology, particularly evolutionary and comparative anatomy of the human body, what makes it unique among other primates, and why it varies among populations. Includes aspects of forensic anthropology.

    What makes humans unique to all other primates, and how did we come to be that way? How can we explain the variation in morphology among human populations? How can we use aspects of the skeleton of past people to look at their life history? This paper explores these questions by providing an introduction to the study of Biological Anthropology of the human skeleton. The paper primarily focuses on the evolution, structure and function of the human skeletal system, with an introduction to bioarchaeological and forensic methods.

    About this paper

    Paper title Biocultural Human Skeletal Biology
    Subject Biological Anthropology
    EFTS 0.15
    Points 18 points
    Teaching period(s) Summer School (On campus)
    Semester 1 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,173.30
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Prerequisite
    ((One of ARCH 101, ANTH 103, ANTH 106, BIOA 101 BIOL 112, CELS 191, HUBS 191, HUBS 192, PTWY 131) and 36 further points) or 108 points
    Schedule C
    Arts and Music, Science
    Contact

    bioa201.admin@otago.ac.nz
    Anatomy Office Room 231
    2nd Floor, Lindo Ferguson Building (LFB)
    Tel: 03 479 7362

    Teaching staff

    2024 teaching staff to be confirmed. Please contact the Department for more information.

    Teaching Arrangements
    All teaching is undertaken on campus.
    Textbooks

    Required: White T and Folkens P, 2005. The Human Bone Manual Amsterdam. Academic Press.

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork, Environmental literacy.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes
    • Develop an understanding of the biological basis for human variation
    • Develop a detailed understanding of human musculoskeletal anatomy, including the functional anatomy of joints and muscles, from bioarchaeological and forensic perspectives
    • Develop an understanding of primate comparative musculoskeletal anatomy and how this relates to human evolution
    • Develop an understanding of human bone and dental biology, specifically with regards to growth and development
    • Develop an understanding of the biological basis of sexual dimorphism in humans and how sex estimation is established in bioarchaeology and forensic identification
    • Demonstrate the ability to observe, describe, interpret and communicate aspects of the human skeleton from a bioarchaeological, evolutionary and forensic perspective

    Timetable

    Summer School

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Moodle

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    B1 Tuesday 10:00-10:50 2-5, 7
    AND
    C1 Wednesday 10:00-10:50 2-7
    AND
    D1 Thursday 10:00-10:50 2-7
    AND
    E1 Friday 10:00-10:50 2-7

    Practical

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Wednesday 14:00-15:50 2-7
    Friday 14:00-15:50 2-7

    Semester 1

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Moodle

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Monday 09:00-09:50 9-13, 15-22
    Tuesday 09:00-09:50 9-13, 15-22

    Practical

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Thursday 14:00-15:50 9-13, 15-16, 18-21
    A2 Thursday 16:00-17:50 9-13, 15-16, 18-21
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