Bioarchaeological Science (Taught)

Bioarchaeological Science is at the forefront of the scientific study of the human past. This new programme incorporates the study of human osteoarchaeology and palaeopathology along with the advanced study of human remains through genetic and isotopic analysis. You will learn the latest scientific techniques for the extraction, analysis and presentation of DNA, protein, stable isotope and lipid data.

Through a series of lectures, seminars and practical workshops, you will learn how biomolecular evidence is preserved and later extracted and analysed by bioarchaeologists, and how this data is used to further enhance the information available to archaeologists, evolutionary biologists and palaeoecologists.

This programme also draws on the Department’s expertise in human osteology to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to identify and interpret human remains from archaeological deposits. In addition, you will learn how the study of ancient genes and genomes through the use of techniques such as next-generation sequencing and population genetics is transforming our understanding of the human past, human evolution and the bio-history of other species.

You will also learn the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed in order to identify and interpret palaeopathological changes observed in archaeological human remains and to understand what these changes can tell us about ancient diseases. Students will have the opportunity to develop an original bioarchaeological science research project with our osteoarchaeological, aDNA and isotope specialists in our dedicated laboratories.

This programme covers the knowledge and skills pertinent to the study of ancient remains and is aimed at students interested in pursuing biomolecular archaeology professionally. The skills taught on this programme, however, have multiple applications beyond archaeology, and so this programme is also suitable for students with a background in other disciplines including anthropology, earth sciences, genetics, history, and zoology.

Course Modules

Students will choose from a range of modules, tailoring a course to suit their interests, including osteoarchaeology, biomolecular archaeology and advanced archaeology. Students will be offered training in human osteoarchaeology and palaeopathology by leading specialists, and learn how ancient biomolecules are preserved, extracted and analysed from ancient tissues. Students will have the opportunity to develop an original bioarchaeological science research project with our osteoarchaeological, aDNA and isotope specialists in our dedicated laboratories.

The core modules in semester 1 and 2 provide an opportunity for students to attain both basic and specialist skills in a broad range of laboratory and analytical techniques including DNA, protein and lipid extraction methods from different source materials (modern as well as archaeological), analysis, interpretation and presentation (in written and oral format) of ancient DNA, stable isotope, protein, and lipid data.