Introduction to Bioarcheology

Catalog description

This course introduces students to bioarchaeology- the study of human, animal, and other biological remains in the archaeological context. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and hands-on activities, students will learn how the analysis of skeletal remains, and their burial and temporal contexts, can aid in the reconstruction of past cultural adaptations and evolution, and interpret patterns of subsistence, diet, disease, demography, biological variation, and physical activity. The course also promotes understanding of the ethics of working with archaeological and historical human remains, explores different case studies of bioarchaeological discoveries and their significance, and explores the legal implications of bioarchaeological finds and studies in the United States and abroad.