ARCHAEOZOOLOGY SEMINAR

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

BASA031

Academic Year of enrolment:

2022

Year of supply:

2022/2023

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in CULTURAL HERITAGE: ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF ART

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

D'ANASTASIO RUGGERO

Cycle:

Second semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

Prerequisites:

No prerequisite

Objectives

The aim of the course is to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for the application of the main archaeozoological investigation techniques designed to quantify the animal species found in archaeological excavations, and to reconstruct the trophic and / or cultural relationships between humans and animals. At the end of the course, students must be able to identify the main animal taxa and interpret biometric data in order to reconstruct the behavioral models of ancient human communities adopted with regard to animal species.

Contents

The laboratory provides the basic knowledge and skills for the recovery and study of animal remains in archaeological contexts. In particular, it illustrates the classification keys of zoological remains and the quantification indices useful for reconstructing the relationships between animals and humans in historical and archaeological contexts.

Extended Syllabus

Anatomy of the skeleton of the main animal taxa: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians.
Tooth anatomy.
Estimation of the biological age at death based on the morphometric characteristics of the teeth and bones.
Estimation of sex based on the morphometric characteristics of the skeleton and teeth.
Quantitation indices: NISP, MNI, MNE and anatomical frequencies. Isotope analysis for palodietetic, climatic and environmental reconstructions.
Paleopathology: identification of skeletal alterations related to infectious and traumatic diseases.

Recommended Bibliography

De Grossi Mazzorin, J., Archeozoologia. Lo studio dei resti animali in archeologia, Laterza, Bari, 2008.

Teaching Methods

Lectures carried out concurrently with practical laboratory activities.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

Oral examination. The verification method also provides for the classification of animal remains (casts) from archaeological contexts.

Contacts/More Information

Student reception on Tuesday at 10.00 am at the Institute of Anthropology, Piazza Trento and Trieste, 1 Chieti.
Tel. 0871 3553518
e-mail: r.danastasio@unich.it

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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