Anthropology
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims to prepare students in the study of human remains in order to reconstruct the past, ancient and recent. It aims also to give the basic principles for the collection and recovery of remains and preparation of the biological profile of human osteological remains, both single and in larger groups. It also aims to educate on the importance of human remains as cultural heritage and on how to preserve them.
Expected learning outcomes
The student is expected to learn the basics of the following topics
- Introduction, evolution and development of anthropology; basics of cultural, biomolecular and biological anthropology
- Macrosopcic and microscopic human osteology and odontology
- Biomolecular diagenesis and biomolecular techniques on bones
- Metric and non metric analyses
- Skeletal taphonomy
- Determination of species
- Determination of sex
- Age estimation
- Determination of ancestry, stature, physiognomy; facial reconstruction
- Palaeopathology; occupational trauma, trauma, infections, metabolic disease, nutritional deficit, neoplastic disease
- Inhumations, cremations and mummies
- Forensic anthropology
- Recovery and restoration of human skeletal remains
- Paleodemography and paleo epidemiology
- Identification of historical characters
- Musealisation of human remains
- Skeletal collections
- Introduction, evolution and development of anthropology; basics of cultural, biomolecular and biological anthropology
- Macrosopcic and microscopic human osteology and odontology
- Biomolecular diagenesis and biomolecular techniques on bones
- Metric and non metric analyses
- Skeletal taphonomy
- Determination of species
- Determination of sex
- Age estimation
- Determination of ancestry, stature, physiognomy; facial reconstruction
- Palaeopathology; occupational trauma, trauma, infections, metabolic disease, nutritional deficit, neoplastic disease
- Inhumations, cremations and mummies
- Forensic anthropology
- Recovery and restoration of human skeletal remains
- Paleodemography and paleo epidemiology
- Identification of historical characters
- Musealisation of human remains
- Skeletal collections
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Frontal lessons. If needed, will be used Asynchronous lectures.
Course syllabus
The course aims to prepare students in the study of human remains in order to reconstruct the past and solve crime. It aims also to give the basic principles for the collection, recovery and preparation of the biological profile of human osteological remains. It also aims to educate on the importance of human remains as cultural heritage and on how to preserve them.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites are requested.
Teaching methods
The course will consist of standard lectures, seminars, case studies and a practical a series of practicals on human skeletal remains. PPts and readings will be available on the Ariel site.
Teaching Resources
PPts and readings on the Ariel site.
Biehler Gomez, Cattaneo 2020, Interpreting Bone Lesions and Pathology for Forensic Practice, Academic Press.
Osteology atlas
Biehler Gomez, Cattaneo 2020, Interpreting Bone Lesions and Pathology for Forensic Practice, Academic Press.
Osteology atlas
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination is oral and includes a practical examination concerning the identification of skeletal remains; there is no auxiliary material for the final examination is permitted; the results of the exam will be communicated at the end of the exam; there is no obligation to skip a session in case of failure.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)