Funerary Osteoarchaeology (ARC3611)

Staff	Dr Catriona Mckenzie - Convenor
Credit Value	15
ECTS Value	7.5
NQF Level	6
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
Duration of Module	Term 2: 11 weeks;

Module aims

This module will outline the complex and variable funerary treatments of the dead in past societies through a mixed educational package. The focus is predominantly on the British Isles (with additional examples included from further afield) and traces a chronological development from early prehistory to the late and/or post-medieval period.

ILO: Module-specific skills

1. Demonstrate an appreciation for the diversity of funerary behaviour and its use in reconstructing the social organisation of past societies
2. Accurately use terms to describe the position of the skeleton in different funerary contexts

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

3. Apply a biocultural approach to the study of funerary osteoarchaeology
4. Demonstrate an understanding of how the funerary record can be integrated within archaeological discourse

ILO: Personal and key skills

5. Critically evaluate information drawn from a variety of sources, including lectures, course literature, and archaeological plans
6. Demonstrate proficiency in written presentation skills

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics.

The course will start with an introduction to theoretical approaches to osteoarchaeology. The classes will then focus on different time periods starting from the early evidence of burial practices in early pre-history and ending with the late and/or post-medieval period.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching	22	Educational package sessions (11 x 2 hours)
Guided independent study	128	Independent study

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	70	2000 words	1-6	Oral and written feedback
Poster Presentation	30	500 words	1-6	Oral and written feedback
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Examination	Examination	1-6	Referral/Deferral period
Individual Presentation Script with PowerPoint slides	10 minutes 1000 words max	1-6	Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Daniell, C. 1997. Death and Burial in Medieval England. Routledge, London.
Gowland, R. and Knusel, C.J. (eds.) 2006. Social Archaeology of Funerary Remains. Oxbow Books, Oxford.
Parker-Pearson, M. 1999. The Archaeology of Death and Burial. Sutton, Stroud.

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11472

Available as distance learning?

Origin date

October 2008

Last revision date

19/08/2020

Key words search

Funerary, osteoarchaeology, archaeology, death, burial