Overview
Biological variation of the human skeleton. Application of the theory and methods of analysis used to study morphological and genetic variation and health in human skeletal remains excavated from archaeological sites.
Have you ever wanted to know how and why we assess past human life ways from human skeletons? What do experts assess in archaeological and forensic situations? This course will take you through a detailed investigation of biological and cultural adaptation of human populations as reflected in the skeleton to understand human health and history. Topics include growth variation, age and sex assessment, ancient disease, and ancient DNA and isotope analyses of human variation.
About this paper
| Paper title | Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton |
|---|---|
| Subject | Biological Anthropology |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,243.65 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- BIOA 201
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Science
- Contact
Anatomy Office Room 231, 2nd Floor Lindo Ferguson Building (LFB)
Tel: 479 7362
Email bioa301.admin@otago.ac.nz- More information link
- View more information on the structure of the Anatomy major
- Teaching staff
2025 teaching staff to be confirmed. Please contact the Department for more information.
- Teaching Arrangements
- All teaching is undertaken on campus.
- Textbooks
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, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will:
- Develop a detailed understanding of the process of changes with age and the basis of sexual dimorphism in the adult human skeleton, and how and why these vary among individuals and populations
- Develop a detailed understanding of the evolution and variability of human growth and development and develop an ability to apply this understanding in interpreting evidence from the skeleton of an infant or child
- Develop a detailed understanding of the response of the human skeleton to disease and injury
- Develop a detailed understanding of the use of molecular anthropology in skeletal analysis
- Demonstrate ability to interpret evidence of age at death, sex, ancestry and health and disease in a human skeleton, and to understand the limitations of this process
- Demonstrate ability to locate literature on a relevant topic, and to synthesise and critically analyse the publications
- Develop an understanding of the application of skeletal analysis to the interpretation of human skeletal remains from archaeological sites