Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology Specialisation

Total units 24 Units

Areas of interest Archaeology, Biological Anthropology
Specialisation code BAFA-SPEC

Academic career Postgraduate
Academic Contact Prof Philip Piper

This is a Biological Anthropology specialisation which focuses on the study of skeletal biology in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology/ archaeology. Students will gain skills, knowledge, and training in: reconstructing ancient human lifeways, behaviour, health, and disease using human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts; and identifying recent human remains and estimating time-since and manner of death. This specialisation focuses heavily on skeletal anatomy, structure, variation, and metabolic processes involved in skeletal growth and function in humans and animal models. Students are offered a broad grounding in theory and techniques needed to pursue original research and/ or gain relevant professional skills in areas of bioarchaeology and/or forensic anthropology/archaeology.

Learning Outcomes

understand human skeletal biology in archaeological and forensic contexts;
understand the theories, methods and practice of forensic anthropology, bioarchaeology, and forensic archaeology;
apply bioarchaeological and forensic anthropology methods in the field, laboratory and written form; and
undertake a research project in bioarchaeology and/or forensic anthropology.