Skeletal Biology and Anthropology

On completing the course, students should be able to: 1. demonstrate an understanding of the concept and importance of Anthropometry; 2. demonstrate practical experience in collecting anthropometric data and the applications of anthropometry; 3. discuss the main principles of skeletal biology, including main skeletal tissues, cell types, their origin and development; 4. discuss the human skeletal system, including the nature and function of bone, the identification of bone and bony fragments in an anthropological context, and the interpretation of morphological features of bone for research in biological anthropology and human biology; 5. discuss the identification and analysis of human bone, and an understanding of how these data are utilized to answer significant anthropological research questions; 6. display understanding of the ethical treatment of human remains in light of major moral and legal dilemmas facing the scientific study of humans today; 7. describe an exposure to an anthropological approach to the study of the skeletal structure of humans; 8. demonstrate an evaluation of new research in the field of human skeletal biology; and 9. Demonstrate an understanding of fingerprint techniques and their use in forensic anthropology.

Lectures cum practical study of major features of bones of the human skeleton, a detailed consideration of the basic properties of bone growth, development, and function in the human body, an examination of all major skeletal structures and the morphological features associated with them. The focus will be on the functions of these structures within the body as well as the identification of fragmentary remnants of them in a forensic or archaeological context. Major techniques used in biological anthropology to analyse human bone, such as estimation of age at death, estimation of biological sex and stature. Evaluation of major research studies involving analysis of human bone. Consideration of ethical issues in the collection and curation of human bone. Measurement of bone parameters and their application to human identification. The practical is integrated in the lectures for better understanding of anthropometry. Dermatoglyphics, fingerprints techniques and their use in forensic anthropology.