The Human Skeleton ANTH 1720/ARCH 1772 Professor Andrew Scherer BioMed 015 6:40 – 8:00 TuThu

Email: [email protected] Office Phone: (401) 863-7059 Office Hours: Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00; Giddings 215

Teachings Assistants:

COURSE DESCRIPTION and OBJECTIVES: More than just a rigid structure beneath our skin, the human skeleton is a living, dynamic tissue that is an integral element of our bio-cultural lives. As with all vertebrates, our skeleton gives our bodies form and protection, while contributing to a number of key physiological processes. However, the human skeleton is in many respects unique—a bi-product of a 6 million year evolutionary trajectory that has left us the sole big- brained, bipedal primate on the planet, and with one of the longest lifespans and slowest development of any mammal.

To the trained analyst, the human skeleton is a history book from which one can not only read our evolutionary story but also the biography of individual past lives. In that regards, knowledge of the human skeleton provides the structural framework for much of the discipline of biological anthropology, and is an essential area of study in a variety of fields, including archaeology, forensic science, and medicine.

We will explore the human skeleton through both lecture and intensive hands-on laboratory work. For each skeletal element, we will examine issues of structure, function, development, and evolutionary history. By the end of the semester you will be able to identify every bone in your (or someone else’s) body, recognize key anatomical landmarks on those bones, and determine the side of the body to which a particular bone belongs. Beyond skeletal anatomy, we will also explore aspects of bone histology and biology, excavation and preservation, taphonomy, and pathology. We will consider how sexually dimorphic aspects of our skeleton— particularly our unusual pelvic design—permits us to distinguish between male and female skeletons. We will explore how the prolonged development and degeneration of the human skeleton allows us to glean information from age-at-death from our bones. We will also explore the interface of the human skeleton with society (past and present) through the fields of forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology. And we will discuss ethical issues in the study of human remains.

By the end of the course, you will be able to conduct basic skeletal analysis and will be prepared for more advanced studies of the human skeleton from medical, forensic, archaeological, functional, and evolutionary perspectives.

REQUIRED TEXTS: White, T.D., M.T. Black, and P. Folkens 2011 Human Osteology. Third edition. Elsevier Academic Press, Burlington, MA.

ADDITIONAL READINGS: We will also be reading a variety of articles on topics pertaining to the study of the human skeleton:

Ackerman, Jennifer. 2006 The Downside of Upright. National Geographic July: 126-145.

DiGangi, Elizabeth A. and Joseph T. Hefner 2013 Ancestry Estimation. In Research Methods in Human Skeletal Biology, edited by E.A. DiGangi and M.K. Moore, pp. 117-150. Academic Press, Oxford.

DiGangi, Elizabeth A. and Megan K. Moore 2013 Introduction to Skeletal Biology. In Research Methods in Human Skeletal Biology, edited by E.A. DiGangi and M.K. Moore, pp. 3-28. Academic Press, Oxford

Komar, Deborah and Jane Buikstra 2008 Chapters 1 and 2: Forensic Anthropology: Contemporary Theory and Practice

Larsen, Clark Spencer 2006 The Changing Face of Bioarchaeology: An Interdisciplinary Science. In Bioarchaeology: The Contextual Analysis of Human Remains, edited by J.E. Buikstra and L.A. Beck, pp. 359-374. Academic Press, Burlington, MA.

Lieberman, Daniel 2011 A Tinkered Ape? Excerpt from: The Evolution of the Human Head. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

Martin, Deborah.L., Ryan P. Harrod, Ventura R. Pérez 2013 The Practice of Bioarchaeology. Bioarchaeology: An Integrated Approach to Working with Human Remains, Springer, New York.

Ostendorf Smith 2013 Paleopathology. In Research Methods in Human Skeletal Biology, edited by E.A. DiGangi and M.K. Moore, pp. 181-218. Academic Press, Oxford.

Roberts, C., Manchester, K., 2005. Chapters 1 and 7: The Archaeology of Disease, Third ed., Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.

Sledzik, Paul S., Dennis Dirkmaat, Robert W. Mann, Thomas D. Holland, Amy Zelson Mundorff, Bradley J. Adams, Christian Crowder and Frank DePaolo 2009 Disaster Victim Recovery and Identification: Forensic Anthropology in the Aftermath of September 11. In Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology, edited by D. W. Steadman. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Smith, O.C., Elayne J. Pope and Steven A. Symes 2009 Look Until You See: Identification of Trauma in Skeletal Material. In Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology, edited by D. W. Steadman, pp. 190-204. Second ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Walker, Phillip L. and Della Collins Cook 1998 Brief Communication: Gender and Sex: Vive la Difference. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 106:255-259. Walker, Phillip L. 2008 Bioarchaeological Ethics. In Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton, edited by M. A. Katzenberg and S. R. Saunders, pp. 3-40. Wiley-Liss, Hoboken, NJ.

DISTRIBUTION OF POINTS: Osteology Quizzes (8 x 50): 400 Final Exam 100 Debating Osteology 40

Total 540

DETERMINATION OF YOUR FINAL GRADE (% OUT OF TOTAL POINTS):

ABC/NC OPTION: S/NC OPTION: A = 90 – 100% S = 70 – 100% B = 80 - 89% NC = < 70% C = 70 – 79% NC = < 70%

ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION, and CLASSROOM CONDUCT: Attendance is mandatory. There will be no make-up opportunities for laboratory assignments, quizzes, or exams that are missed because of an unexcused absence. Because we will be handling real human skeletal materials in this class, it is imperative that these remains are treated with the utmost respect. Please treat all skeletal materials with care, using both hands, and held over the lab tables. Never pick up a skull by the zygomatic arch or by the eye orbits. Also, do not articulate the mandible and maxilla unless there is foam padding in-between. If your break a skeletal element you will be required to replace it with a bone from your own body. With the exception of water, food and drinks are not allowed into the laboratory. Failure to follow these rules will result in your excusal from the course.

OSTEOLOGY QUIZES Osteology quizzes are designed to test your comprehension of human skeletal anatomy. You will be required to (1) identify the bones of the skeleton, (2) determine what side of the body the bone is from, and (3) identify important characteristics of each bone. Teeth will also be on the quiz. You will be required to identify tooth class, position, side, and whether the tooth is maxillary/mandibular. Some elements on the quiz will appear as fragments of bone. You will also need to be able to distinguish between human and non-human bone. You will have 75 seconds with each bone before passing it to your neighbor.

Quizzes are cumulative—once a bone is covered in lecture it is fair game for any quiz remaining in the semester. There will be a final osteology quiz at the end of the semester. A study packet of the bones and features will be provided.

FINAL EXAM: The final exam will be a comprehensive review of all material covered in the course, not including bone identification. For that you will receive a separate Final Osteology Quiz. The Final Exam will consist primarily of fill in the blank, supplemented by definitions, short answer, and short essay.

PAPER: DEBATING OSTEOLOGY There will be a single final paper for the course due on Thursday, Dec 10 (no extensions!). For this paper, you will critically evaluate a debate centered on the human skeleton in archaeological or forensic contexts. You must first clear that topic with Professor Scherer.

Having trouble finding a topic? One interesting debate is in regards to Cannibalism in the American Southwest. Archaeological sites in the region have produced fragmented, cut, and burned human skeletal remains. Some scholars see these remains as evidence of cannibalism while others argue for alternative explanations. In your paper, critically evaluate the evidence for and against cannibalism in this context and take a position – how do you interpret these deposits? Although the focus of your paper will be on the osteological data relevant for the debate, be sure to also discuss the broader archaeological context in which this debate is framed.

Papers should be written in 12 point font, double spaced, one inch margins, and using the SAA citation style. A copy of this style guide is available on the course Canvas page or here: http://www.saa.org/AbouttheSociety/Publications/StyleGuide/tabid/984/Default.aspx. Note that the style guide pertains only to how you should reference literature in your paper (parenthetical citations) and how your bibliography should be formatted. You must consult and cite original primary literature (academic books, journals, edited volumes) in writing your paper.

RESEARCHING THE HUMAN SKELETON All of your essays require you to engage with scholarly literature pertaining to the human skeleton. The internet is not always a reliable source of information and you are not allowed to cite web pages in your essays. Rather you should be consulting primary academic literature relating to the human skeleton. This includes books and journals issued by academic publishers and written by academics.

Google Scholar is an excellent tool that only searches academic journals. If you search within Brown’s network (i.e., on campus or via the VPN) you will be given a link at right to PDFs that are accessible through the library.

Journals related to the Human Skeleton include:  American Journal of Physical Anthropology  Dental Anthropology  International Journal of Osteoarchaeology  International Journal of Paleopathology

The Brown Library is an excellent resource for books. Older books will be available as physical copies at the library. Newer books are mostly ebooks and can be searched through the general library portal: http://library.brown.edu/

SOME RELEVANT TEXTS IN HUMAN OSTEOLOGY: Aufderheide, Arthur C. and Conrado Rodríguez-Martín 1998 The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Paleopathology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Buikstra, Jane E. and Lane A. Beck (editors) 2006 Bioarchaeology: The Contextual Analysis of Human Remains. Academic Press, Burlington, MA.

Buikstra, Jane E. and Douglas H. Ubelaker 1994 Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains. Arkansas Archeological Survey Research Series No. 44. Arkansas Archeological Survey, Fayetteville.

Brickley, Megan and Rachel Ives (editors) 2008 The Bioarchaeology of Metabolic Bone Disease. Academic Press, Oxford.

DiGangi, Elizabeth A. and Megan K. Moore 2013 Research Methods in Human Skeletal Biology. Academic Press, Oxford.

Galloway, Allison (editor) 1999 Broken Bones: Anthropological Analysis of Blunt Force Trauma. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL.

Grauer, Anne 2011 A Companion to Paleopathology. Wiley-Blackwell, New York.

Hillson, Simon 1996 Dental Anthropology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Kimmerle, Erin and Jose Pablo Baraybar (editors) 2008 Skeletal Trauma: Identification of Injuries Resulting from Human Rights Abuse and Armed Conflict. CRC Press, Boca Raton.

Knudson, Kelly J and Christopher M. Stojanowski (editors) 2009 Bioarchaeology and Identity in the Americas. The University of Florida Press, Gainesville.

Larsen, Clark S. 1997 Bioarchaeology: Interpreting Behavior from the Human Skeleton. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Lewis, Mary E. 2007 The Bioarchaeology of Children: Perspectives from Biological and Forensic Anthropology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Ortner, Donald J. 2002 Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains. Second edition. Academic Press, London.

Powell, Mary Lucas and Della Collins Cook (editors) 2005 The Myth of Syphilis: The History of Treponematosis in North America. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.

Roberts, Charlotte and Jane E. Buikstra 2003 The Bioarchaeology of Tuberculosis. University of Florida Press, Gainesville.

Roberts, Charlotte and Keith Manchester 2005 The Archaeology of Disease. Third ed. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.

Scheur, Louise and Sue Black 2000 Developmental Juvenile Osteology. Academic Press, London.

Schmidt, Chistopher W. and Steven A. Symes (editors) 2008 The Analysis of Burned Human Remains. Academic Press, London.

Scott, G. Richard and Christy G. Turner, II 1997 The Anthropology of Modern Human Teeth: Dental Morphology and Its Variation in Recent Human Populations. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Weiss, Elizabeth 2014 Paleopathology in Perspective: Bone Health and Disease through Time. Rowman and Littlefield Publishers.

SCHEDULE Subject To Revision DAY TOPIC READING Week 1 (September 7-11) Thu Course Introduction Week 2 (September 14-18) Tue Bone Biology and Anatomical Terminology White et al. Chapt. 1-3 DiGangi and Moore 2013 Thur Introduction to the Skull White et al. 4.1-4.11 Neurocranium I Week 3 (September 21-25): Tue Bone Quiz: Neurocranium White et al. 4.12-4.21 Neurocranium II Splanchnocranium I Thur Splanchnocranium II White et al. 4.12-4.21; White et al. Chapt. 5 Dentition I Week 4 (September 28-October 2) Tue Bone Quiz: Neurocranium and Splanchocranium White et al. Chapt. 5 Dentition II Thur Os Coxae White et al. Chapt. 11 Evolution of the Head and Pelvis White et al. 28 Ackerman (2006) Lieberman (2011) Week 5 (October 5-9) Tue Bone Quiz: Os Coxae and Teeth White et al. Chapt. 15, 16 Non-Human Bone, Recovery, Applications Thur Bioarchaeology and Mortuary Archaeology Larsen (2006) Martin et al. (2013) Recommended: White et al. Chapt. 25 Week 6 (October 12-16) Tue Pectoral Girdle White et al. Chapt. 8 Forensic Anthropology I Komar and Buikstra (2008) Sledzik et al. (2008) Recommended: White et al. Chapt. 23, 24 Thur Hyoid and Vertebral Column I White et al. Chapt. 6 Forensic Anthropology II Week 7 (October 19-23) Tue Bone Quiz: Pectoral Girdle White et al. Chapt. 6 and 11 Vertebral Column II Thur Ancestry DiGangi and Hefner 2013 White et al. Chapt. 21.1, 21.2

Week 8 (October 26-30) Tue Bone Quiz: Vertebrae White et al. Chapt. 7 Thorax I Thur Thorax II White et al. Chapt 18.4 Sexual Dimorphism Walker and Cook (1998) Week 9 (November 2-6) Tue Arm I White et al. Chapt. 9 Thur Arm II White et al. Chapt. 18.3 Age Determination Week 10 (November 9-13) Tue Hand I White et al. Chapt. 10 Bone Quiz: Arm Thur Hand II White et al. Chapt. 12 Leg I Week 11 (November 16-19) Tue Leg II White et al. Chapt. 12 Bone Quiz: Hand Thur Foot White et al. Chapt. 13 Week 12 (November 23-27) Tue Bone Quiz: Leg White et al. 19, 21.3, 21.4 Pathology I Ostendorf and Smith (2013) Thur Thanksgiving Break Week 13 (November 30 – December 3) Tue Pathology II White et al. Chapt 20, 26 Smith, Pope, and Symes (2009) Thur Bone Quiz: Foot White et al. Chapt. 17 Ethics and the Study of Human Remains Walker (2008) Week 15 and 16 (April 28 & May 5) Dec. 8 Final Exam Dec. 10 Debating Human Osteology Paper Due