HUMAN OSTEOLOGY

ANTH 3423 / 3421L

INSTRUCTOR:
Jerome C. Rose
Old Main 348
575-5247

OFFICE HOURS:
There will always be a list of open appointment times for at least two days each week posted outside of the Anthropology Office, Old Main 330, every Friday. If you need more time than the 15 minute time slot, just put your name down for as many time slots as you think that you will need. You can contact me by e-mail, but I do not check it every day: jcrose@uark.edu. Please put student as part of the subject line. Of course you may always see me in class and set up an appointment. If you call, leave a message with the main office as there is no voice mail.

CLASS PURPOSE:
The goal of this class is to learn the skills and acquire the knowledge to begin conducting research on the human skeleton. You will learn the names and features of the bones and teeth of the human skeleton. You will learn about skeletal growth and development and how the skeleton functions. You will also learn how to measure, record pathological lesions, determine age and sex, and how to discover many other wonderful things hidden away in the bones. Knowledge of human osteology is used in the study of fossils and human evolution; study of human skeletons for forensic (legal) anthropology; and the study of human skeletons discovered in archaeological contexts both prehistoric and historic. As I am a bioarchaeologist, my focus will be on the analysis of historic and ancient skeletons, but the same knowledge is used in all research contexts. This entire class will focus on laboratory work with lectures providing the background interspersed throughout the semester.

CLASS STRUCTURE:
Osteology is a hands on subject that can only be learned by working with the bones and teeth, both real and plastic. Thus, every day will be a laboratory day making class attendance mandatory for learning the human skeleton. If you miss a class there is no way that you can borrow a classmate’s knowledge and experience and you will have to make arrangements with me to have access to the skeletons – this is often not possible and always not easy. Each laboratory quiz will involve active observation and handling of the bones and teeth (pictures simply will not help here so you cannot just study the book). There will be topical lectures on bone structure, growth and development, paleopathology, etc. scattered throughout the semester that will take up a portion of many classes (these topics are also covered in the text book), but there will always be laboratory work. Each portion of the skeleton will be introduced by a short lecture, but most of the learning will be active interaction between skeleton, student, textbooks, and instructors.

CARE AND TREATMENT OF THE SKELETONS:
The plastic bones that we will use for study and practice are expensive and must be treated with care. Inappropriate or careless behavior that results in damage to the bones will require them to be replaced at the student’s expense. The skeletons that we will also examine must be treated with both respect and care. Remember that they were and are someone like you and me, and I expect them to be treated as you would a member of your own family. Disrespectful behavior might very well result in university disciplinary action.

TEXTS:

1. Human Osteology. (Third edition) White, Black, and Folkens. Elsevier: Amsterdam. 2012. Required. This book is available for purchase or rent in electronic version and can also be rented in hard-back for the semester.
2. Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains. J.E. Buikstra and D.H. Ubelaker. This is a basic reference that we will constantly use throughout the classes. This book is being provided to you free of charge as a gift from the publisher, the Arkansas Archaeological Survey.

CLASS REQUIREMENTS:

The grades for both laboratory work and class work will be combined into a single grade and that same grade will be given for both 3423 and 3421.

Laboratory tests each Thursday =70% of the grade

A laboratory final project done in class and at home =30% of the grade

Only one bone test can be missed with a valid excuse. If you take all the tests you may drop the lowest grade. If you miss a test then it is your lowest grade. All laboratory tests will take place at the beginning of class on Thursday of almost every week and being late is the same as an absence.

Test Make Up Policy:
There are times when an exam must be missed and this must be explained in writing with documentation. If more than one exam is missed and there is documentation of a legitimate excuse, then a 10 page research project will be assigned and the grade on this will be used for the missed examination.

Academic Honesty Statement:
As a core part of its mission, the University of Arkansas provides students with the opportunity to further their educational goals through programs of study and research in an environment that promotes freedom of inquiry and academic responsibility. Accomplishing this mission is only possible when intellectual honesty and individual integrity prevail. Each University of Arkansas student is required to be familiar with and abide by the University’s ‘Academic Integrity Policy’ which may be found at honesty.uark.edu/policy. Students with questions about how these policies apply to a particular course or assignment should immediately contact their instructor.

Note Sharing:
Any commercial use or publication of lecture material without the permission of the instructor is prohibited and will be reported as an Academic Integrity Violation.

Inclement Weather:
If the university is closed then we will not have class and you should be registered for RazALERT and be notified by email, text, and phone. If the university is open, but I cannot get there, then I will attempt to send everyone an email. But I have never not been able to get to class in 38 years. See:  http://vcfa.uark.edu/policies/fayetteville/vcfa/2100-20141106.pdf

Disability:
Please note that if you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodation please contact me as soon as possible. Also see:  http://cea.uark.edu/

Sexual Harassment:
It is the policy of the University of Arkansas to provide an educational and work environment in which thought, creativity, and growth are stimulated, and in which individuals are free to realize their full potential. The university should be a place of work and study for students, faculty, and staff, which is free of all forms of discrimination, sexual intimidation and exploitation. Therefore, it is the policy of the University of Arkansas, to prohibit discrimination and sexual harassment of its students, faculty, and staff and to make every effort to eliminate discrimination and sexual harassment in the university. See http://vcfa.uark.edu/policies/fayetteville/oeoc/4180.php for a full statement of your responsibilities.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change):
(Readings by chapter in White, Black and Folkens = WBF; “Standards” = BU)

Week 1
Introduction Reading: WBF 1, 2, 3
Pelvis Reading: WBF 11; BU 2, 3, 7

Week 2
Bioarchaeology, Forensics, Fossils
Pelvis Reading: WBF 11; BU 2, 3, 7

Week 3
Leg Reading: WBF 12; BU 10
Bone Biology Reading: WBF 3

Week 4
Leg continued
Leg continued

Week 5
Arm Reading: WBF 8, 9
Function

Week 6
Arm continued
Vertebral Column Reading: WBF 6, 7, 8

Week 7
Vertebra Column and Thorax
Age and Sex Reading: WBF 18; BU 4

Week 8
Thorax continued
Hand and Foot Reading: WBF 10, 13, 16

Week 9
Paleopathology Reading: WBF 19, 20, 21
Skull Reading: WBF 4, 5; BU 8

Week 10
Skull continued
Skull continued

Week 11
Skull continued
Skull continued

Week 12
Teeth Reading: WBF 5; BU 5, 6
Teeth continued

Week 13
Teeth continued
Teeth continued

Week 14
Data collection Reading: Both books all chapters
Data collection

Week 15
Final project test
Final project test

Final project handed in by 3:30pm on Final Exam day