Anthropology 384/384L: Skeletal Biology
Lect.: TR 9 – 10:15; Lab: TR 10:30-11:45
Spring 2014
Professor Michael Pietrusewsky
Syllabus
Anthropology 384, 384L: Skeletal Biology (4 credits)
http://www.anthropology.hawaii.edu/People/Faculty/Pietrusewsky/anth384/
This course is an introduction to the study of the human skeleton (human osteology) and some of the methods used by
skeletal biologists in the identification and study of human skeletons. The information presented in this course can be
applied to the study of human skeletons from archaeological sites (modern and prehistoric), legal contexts (forensic
osteology), and/or palaeontological contexts.
The topics to be addressed in the lecture portion of this course include the excavation and treatment of human remains,
bone and cartilage histology, bone growth and development, the methods for determining age-at-death, sex, stature, and
ancestry from human skeletons, dental anthropology, metric and non-metric skeletal variation, palaeodemography,
paleopathology, forensic anthropology, biodistance studies, and specialized methods (e.g., isotope analysis, DNA from
bone etc.) of skeletal research.
Using anatomical study specimens provided in the lab, students are expected to acquire a basic understanding of human
skeletal anatomy (human osteology), including the names and morphological features of bones and teeth. This
information will be examined on the first written and lab practical exams. The remaining labs will focus on the methods
used in skeletal biology. The laboratory assignments include: histological structure of bone and cartilage; determining
age, sex and ancestry; recording of metric and non-metric variation; paleodemography; data analysis; and
paleopathology. The lab assignments will be graded. A final written and lab practical exam will be given at the end of
semester. In addition to completing the laboratory assignments, students are expected to log a total of 5 hours of work
assisting with on-going research and other activities related to skeletal biology
Pre-requisites: Anth 215, 215L, or consent of Instructor; Concurrent enrollment in Anth 384L is required.
UHM Diversification Requirement Designations: Biological Science Diversification Requirement (DB) & Laboratory
Science Diversification Requirement (DY)
Laboratory supervisor and teaching assistant: Gabriela Martinez . Email: ggm@hawaii.edu
Exams and Grade Computation: Written Mid-term Exam = 10%; Mid-term Lab Practical Exam= 20%; Final Written
Exam = 15%; Final Lab Practical Exam = 15%; Laboratory Assignments = 40%;.
Reading and Required Texts: Reading will be assigned from the two required texts and other sources throughout the
semester. A reading list will be issued on the first day of class.
Required Texts:
White, T. D., Black, M.T., Folkens PA. 2012 Human osteology. Third edition. San Diego: Academic Press
Buikstra, J.E. and Ubelaker, D. H. (editors) 1994. Standards for data collection from human skeletal remains. Arkansas
Archaeological Survey Research Series 44.
Optional Texts:
Abrahams PH, JM Boon JM, Spratt HD, Hutchings RT, Marks SC. 2008. McMinn’s clinical atlas of human
anatomy, 6th edition. Mosby-Elesvier.
Katzenberg MA, Saunders SR. (Editors) 2008. Biological anthropology of the human skeleton, 2nd edition. New York:
Wiley-Liss.
Disability Statement: If you feel you need reasonable accommodations because of the impact of a disability, please 1) contact the
KOKUA Program (V/T) at 956-7511 or 956-7612 in Room 013 of the QLCSS; 2) speak with me privately to discuss your specific
needs. I will be happy to work with you and the KOKUA Program to meet your access needs related to your documented disability.
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Anthropology 384/384L: Skeletal Biology
Spring 2014
Jan. 14 Lecture: Introduction, organization, field procedures, recovery of skeletal remains, and postmortem
changes
Reading: White et al.1 Ch. 1, 15 & 20; Standards2 Ch. 9
Jan 16
Lecture: Analysis of skeletal remains; bioarchaeology; anatomical terminology
Reading: White et al.1 Ch. 2 & 16; Standards2 Ch. 12
Larsen, C.S. 2002. Bioarchaeology: The lives and lifestyles of past people. Journal of Archaeological
Research 10(2):119-166
Wright L. E. and C. J. Yoder 2003 Recent progress in bioarchaeology: approaches to the osteological
paradox. Journal of Archaeological Research 11: 43-70.
Jan 21
Lectures: Bone biology and bone growth
Reading: White et al.1 Ch. 3
Jan 23
Lecture: Skull
Lab: Skull
Reading: White et al.1 Ch. 4
Jan 28
Lab: Skull-continued
PRACTICE QUIZ: Skull
Jan 30
Lecture: Teeth
Lab: Skull and teeth
Reading: White et al.1 Ch. 5; Standards2 Ch. 6
PRACTICE QUIZ: Teeth
Feb. 4
Lecture: Hyoid, vertebrae, sternum, ribs
Lab: Hyoid, vertebrae, sternum, ribs
Reading: White et al.1 Ch. 6 & 7
PRACTICE QUIZ: Hyoid, vertebrae, sternum, ribs
Feb. 6
Lecture: Upper Limb
Lab: Upper Limb
Reading: White et al.1 Ch. 8-10
PRACTICE QUIZ: Upper limb
Feb. 11 Lecture: Lower Limb
Lab: Lower Limb
Reading: White et al.1 Ch. 11-13
PRACTICE QUIZ: Lower limb
Feb. 13 Review for lab practical
Feb. 18 Review for lab practical
Feb.20 WRITTEN EXAM-I / FIRST LAB PRACTICAL
Feb. 25 Lab 1: Bone biology/growth
Feb. 27 Lecture: Age determination: subadults
Lab 2: Subadult age
Reading: White et al.1 Ch. 18: 379-386; 391-393; Standards2 Ch. 4: 39-46; Ch. 5: 50-51; Byers3 Ch. 9: 174190.
Mar. 4 Lecture: Age determination: adults
Lab 3: Adult age
Reading: White et al.1: Ch. 18: 387-391, 394-408; Standards2 Ch. 3: 21-38
LAB 1 DUE
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Anthropology 384/384L: Skeletal Biology
Spring 2014
Mar. 6 Lab: Complete Labs 2 & 3
Mar. 11 Lecture: Sex determination
Lab 4: Sex determination
Reading: White et al.1: 96-98, 408-418; Standards2 Ch. 3: 15-21; Byers3 Ch. 8
LABS 2 & 3 DUE
Mar. 13 Lecture: Metric and non-metric variation
Lab 5: Cranial variation
Reading: White et al.1: 96-98, 476-480, and appropriate sections of Ch. 8, 9, & 12; Standards2 Ch. 8
LAB 4 DUE
Mar. 18 Lab: Complete Lab 5
Mar. 20 Lecture: Stature
Lab. 6: Infracranial variation
Reading: White et al.1: Ch. 18: 418-421; Byers3 Ch. 10
LAB 5 DUE
March 24-28 SPRING BREAK
Apr. 1
Lecture: Biodistance studies
Lab: Complete Lab 6
Reading: White et al.1: Ch. 21: 480-482
Larsen, C.S. 1997. Bioarchaeology: interpreting behavior from the human skeleton. Cambridge Univ.
Press, pp.302-332.
Pietrusewsky, M. 2012. Chapter 146: Biological distance in bioarchaeology and human osteology. In Smith
C. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-0465-2, ©Springer
Science+Business Media, New York.
Apr. 3
Lecture: Dental anthropology
Lab 7: Dental anthropology
Reading: Standards2 Ch. 5: 47-49, 53-56
Hillson S. 2008 Dental pathology. In Katzenberg MA and Saunders SR, editors, Biological anthropology of
the human skeleton. New York: Wiley Liss, p 301-340.
Scott, GR. 2008. Dental morphology. In Katzenberg, M.A and S.R. Saunders (eds.) Biological
anthropology of the human skeleton. New York: Wiley-Liss, pp.265-298.
LAB 6 DUE
Apr. 8
Lecture: Paleopathology
Lab: Complete Lab 7
Reading: White et al.1: Ch. 19; Standards2 Ch. 10
Apr.10 Lab 8: Paleopathology
LAB 7 DUE
Apr. 15 Lecture: Indicators of stress
Reading
Goodman, A.H. and D. L. Martin 2002. Reconstructing health profiles from skeletal remains. In Seckel R.H.
and J.C. Rose (eds.) The Backbone of history. Health and nutrition in the Western World. Cambridge
University Press, pp. 11-60.
Douglas, M.T. and M. Pietrusewsky 2007 Biological consequences of sedentism and agricultural intensification
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Anthropology 384/384L: Skeletal Biology
Spring 2014
in northeast Thailand. In M.N. Cohen and G. Crane-Kramer (eds.), Ancient health: skeletal indicators of
agricultural and economic intensification (Bioarchaeological interpretations of the human past: local, regional,
and global perspectives). Gainesville: University of Florida Press. pp. 300-319 + references.
Apr. 17 Lecture: Ancestry
Lab 9: Ancestry
Reading: White et al.1:421-424; Byers3 Ch. 7
LAB 8 DUE
Apr. 22 Lecture: Forensic anthropology
Lab: Complete Lab 9
Reading: Byers3 (2008:1-10)
Ubelaker, D. H. 2008 Forensic anthropology: methodology and diversity of applications. In Katzenberg,
M.A and S.R. Saunders (eds.) Biological anthropology of the human skeleton. New York: Wiley-Liss, pp.
41-69.
Apr. 24 Lecture: Paleodemography
Reading: White et al.1:485-488; Ubelaker4: 135-141
Milner, R.R., Wood, J. W., and J. L. Bolsen, P. 2008 Advances in paleodemography. In Katzenberg, M.A
and S.R. Saunders (eds.) Biological anthropology of the human skeleton. New York: Wiley-Liss, pp. 561600.
Lab 10: Paleodemography
LAB 9 DUE
Apr. 29 Lecture: Ethics, repatriation
Reading:
Walker P 2008. Bioarchaeological ethics: A historical perspective on the value of human remains. In
Katzenberg, M.A and S.R. Saunders (eds.) Biological anthropology of the human skeleton. New York:
Wiley-Liss, pp. 3-40.
LAB 10 DUE/ Review for lab practical
May 1
Review for lab practical
May 6
FINAL LAB PRACTICAL: 9-11 AM
May 15 FINAL WRITTEN
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9:45-11:45 AM
References:
White TD, Black MT, Folkens PA. 2012. Human osteology. Third edition. San Diego: Academic Press.
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Buikstra JE, Ubelaker DH. (eds.) 1994. Standards for data collection from human skeletal remains. Arkansas Archaeological Survey
Research Series No .44.
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Byers SN. 2011 Forensic anthropology 4th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
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Ubelaker, D. 1999. Human skeletal remains. 3rd ed. Manuals on archaeology. Washington, D.C.: Taraxacum.5 Katzenberg, M.A
and S.R. Saunders (eds.) 2008 Biological anthropology of the human skeleton, 2nd Ed. New York: Wiley-Liss
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