Course summary

Human skeletal remains are the most direct evidence of past lifeways and their scientific investigation gives unique insights into human history. Bioarchaeology, also known as osteoarchaeology (the study of archaeological human remains), is a subdiscipline of biological anthropology. It is an exciting interdisciplinary field that draws on a variety of techniques, ranging from visual examination of the whole skeleton to the biomolecular analysis of small bone samples. Demographic shifts, environmental changes, migrations, lifestyles, numerous diseases and the impact of violence and conflict all leave traces on the skeleton. This MSc provides the skills required to:

• identify human remains, through detailed analytical skills

• apply a wide-range of methods employed in the study of human remains, including analysis of skeletal pathology

• quantify and analyse scientific data

• understand skeletal biographies

• apply social theory

• interpret human remains within their cultural context at both an individual and a population level

• Bioarchaeology/ Human Osteoarchaeology/ Palaeopathology/ Biological Anthropology

• Interpersonal violence and conflict

• Experimental bioarchaeology

• Professional standards, ethics and legislation in human osteoarchaeology

• Historical bioarchaeology

• Bioarchaeology of children and childhood

• Palaeodietary reconstruction

• Archaeology of identity

• Human–environment interactions

• The transition from hunter-gatherer to farming communities

• The development of complex societies

• Social and health inequalities in the past

• Diet and health

• Cultural heritage perspectives on the past, present, and future

• Breadth of expertise within the Archaeology subject area:

• Bioarchaeology and isotope studies

• Egyptology

• Roman and ‘Celtic’ archaeology

• The Byzantine World and Late Antiquity

• Megalithic monuments

• Prehistory of Europe, the Mediterranean and North-East Africa

• Early civilisations and urban societies

• The archaeology of Scotland

• Cultural heritage and sustainability

• Digital heritage and heritage policy

• Archaeomaterials analysis

• Human evolution

• Conflict archaeology

• Medieval archaeology

• Computational archaeology

• Marine and coastal archaeology

• Buildings archaeology

• Archaeological survey-Landscape Archaeology