ARCHAEOBIOLOGY AND FORENSIC BIOTECHNOLOGY - Archaeobiology

Degree course: 
Corso di First cycle degree in BIOTECHNOLOGY
Academic year when starting the degree: 
2017/2018
Year: 
3
Academic year in which the course will be held: 
2019/2020
Course type: 
Supplementary compulsory subjects
Credits: 
3
Period: 
First Semester
Standard lectures hours: 
24
Detail of lecture’s hours: 
Lesson (24 hours)
Requirements: 

None

The evaluation consists of an oral exam.
The objective of the oral exam is to evaluate the level of knowledge of the student about the learning objectives.

Assessment: 
Voto Finale

To provide basic knowledge of archaeobiology, scientific developments in archaeology and application of biological investigations and of biotechnology to historical studies and archaeology.

ARCHAEOBIOLOGY
Paleoanthropology and study of fossil finds: birth and history of discipline.
Paleoanthropology, from Sahelanthropus tchadensis to australopitecine forms: Analysis of fossil finds from the earliest find.
Paleoanthropology, australopitecine forms: morphological analysis of fossil finds: anamensis, afarensis, africanus
Paleoanthropology, Homo genus: Morphological analysis of the species: habilis, erectus, ergaster, antecessor, cepranensis, Denisova, floresiensis gautengensis, georgicus, heidelbergensis, naledi, neanderthalensis, rhodesiensis, rudolfensis, sapiens, sapiens idaltu.
Osteoarchaeology and physical anthropology: study of human remains (mummified, burned, skeletal). Methods for recovery and analysis of finds.
Anthropometry: metric measurement of the skeleton and calculation of bodily indices. Analysis of constitutional profiles.
Forensic Anthropology: Identify Anthropological Investigations on Remains of Judicial Interest.
Paleopathology: Analysis and recognition of pathological markers on the ancient skeleton.
Paleoradiology: identification and pathological analysis through the use of Diagnostic of Imaging, cases study.
Methods of dating: reading of archaeological stratification (natural and anthropic), dendrochronology, thermoluminescence and isotopic investigations. Presentation of the dating methods of the finds
Archaeobotany: Study of ancient plant material in anthropic constraints.
Archaeozoology: study of ancient faunal remains.

G. Manzi, Il grande racconto dell’evoluzione umana. Il Mulino, 2013.
M. Licata, Questioni emergenti in osteoarcheologia. Mimesis Edizioni, 2016.
G. Fornaciari, V. Giuffra, Lezioni di Paleopatologia, Genova, 2009.

The course consists of 24 hours of frontal lessons (3 credits) and presentation with Power Point slides.

Frontal lessons and interactive discussions