In this class we will learn about the human skeleton and explore the key methods that are used in the identification of individuals, such as age-at-death estimation, sex determination, stature, ancestry, and personal identification. We will also deal with the assessment of differing types of trauma, and whether or not such trauma can inform us of the cause and manner of death. Finally, the broader ethical responsibilities of forensic anthropologists will be discussed, including discussions of how we determine (or, debate) race/ancestry, human rights abuses, disasters, criminal inquiries, and genocides.
Occasionally
In this course we will reflect and discuss ethical perspectives surrounding the handling, treatment, display, curation, trade, and research of human remains. In doing so, we will consider how ethical perspectives vary according to national, legal, spiritual, and cultural contexts. Additionally, we will consider debates on how the state of human remains, whether mummified, skeletonized, dissected, desiccated, etc., factors into ethical discussions on what is deemed permissible (or prohibited) in the handling of human remains.
Every Spring
Ever wondered about our human history? Fascinated by archaeological finds you hear about in the news? This course provides a world tour through time as we travel from our early origins in Africa through the cognitive development seen to emerge in the rock art caves of France. We then travel through the development of agriculture to the emergence of complex societies throughout prehistory. Explore Stonehenge, the Maya, Ancient Egypt, and more.
Every Spring and occasional Interims
Join us in a class that makes the strange familiar and the familiar strange. An anthropological study of diverse local and global cultures invites you to explore humanity. Explore religious perspectives, kinship systems, family practices, power structures, and so much more. This course delves into the Cultural sub-discipline of Anthropology while engaging students with skills necessary in a rapidly globalizing world.
Every Fall
We have all seen the mysteries of the past uncovered in documentaries but how do archaeologists know what they know? This course provides a methodological and theoretical introduction to how archaeologists make sense of material culture to reconstruct the lives of those in the past. Learn how we can reconstruct timelines, analyze artifacts, and read changing landscapes to better understand our deepest human prehistory.
Every Fall
Museums serve a critical function in modern society, acting as repositories of knowledge, culture, and history. Without museums, much of our cultural and historical heritage would be lost. Using this fundamental concept as an entry point, this course explores the history of the modern museum, its functions in contemporary society, and the roles that “museum professionals” play in their institutions and their communities. Through this exploration, students will be exposed to the concepts of cultural patrimony, (de)colonization, nationalism, inclusivity (and exclusivity), and ownership, and they will become familiar with the roles open to them as emerging professionals in the field of museum studies.
Only by independent scholarship as needed
This course is designed to provide a general introduction to Biological Anthropology. The course traces the nature of human evolution, the hominin past, including the study of primates. Further, it examines human skeletal remains as a means of understanding the evolutionary and archaeological past. Finally, the study of Forensics provides practical, real-world applications for the principles of Biological Anthropology.
Every Fall and Spring
Special Topics in Anthropology.