This course is about interpreting past human life-ways, health and ill-health from the skeleton. Life-ways and health are examined by way of skeletal (palaeopathological) and dental manifestations of disease, stress, trauma and violent death, physical activity (basket weaving to spear throwing), tooth use and diet, and demographic histories. Emphasis is on the interactions between biology and behaviour and the influences of environment and culture. The multidisciplinary nature of reconstructing the lives of the dead is explored though the manner in which socio-cultural anthropology, archaeology, bioanthropology, chemistry, molecular biology, medicine and a host of other disciplines inform this research.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- Meet the stipulated course aims.
- Become familiar and comfortable with a broad sample of scholarship in this disciplinary area.
- Augment their ability to think critically about basic assumptions and conceptual frameworks in this field.
- Develop skills in oral presentations, including debate, and in writing.
Indicative Assessment
Annotated bibliography (25%) [Learning Outcomes 1, 2]
Differential Diagnosis (20%) [Learning Outcomes 1, 3]
Tutorial participation (5%) [Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4]
Final paper (50%) [Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Two hours of lectures, one hour of tutorials and seven hours of private study per week.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Larsen, C.S. Bioarchaeology. Interpreting Behavior From the Human Skeleton. Cambridge University Press, 1997.
Hoppa, R.D. and Fitzgerald, C.M. (eds). Human Growth in the Past: Studies from Bones and Teeth. Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Katzenberg, M.A. and Saunders, S.R. (eds). Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton. Wiley-Liss, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000.
Roberts, C. and Manchester, K. The Archaeology of Disease. Cornell University Press, 1997.
Majors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $2604 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $3576 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9429 | 18 Jul 2016 | 29 Jul 2016 | 31 Aug 2016 | 28 Oct 2016 | In Person | N/A |
