ARCHAEOBIOLOGY AND FORENSIC BIOTECHNOLOGY - Archaeobiology

Degree course: 
Corso di First cycle degree in BIOTECHNOLOGY
Academic year when starting the degree: 
2019/2020
Year: 
3
Academic year in which the course will be held: 
2021/2022
Course type: 
Supplementary compulsory subjects
Credits: 
3
Period: 
First Semester
Standard lectures hours: 
24
Detail of lecture’s hours: 
Lesson (24 hours)
Assessment: 
Voto Finale

ARCHAEOBIOLOGY
Paleoanthropology and study of fossil finds: birth and history of discipline.
Paleoanthropology, from Sahelanthropus tchadensis to australopitecine: Analysis of fossil finds from the earliest find.
Paleoanthropology, australopitecine: morphological analysis of fossil finds: anamensis, afarensis, africanus
Paleoanthropology, Homo: Morphological analysis of the species: habilis, erectus, ergaster, antecessor, cepranensis, denisova, floresiensis gautengensis, georgicus, heidelbergensis, naledi, neanderthalensis, rhodesiensis, rudolfensis, sapiens.
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 forensic field.
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 contexts
Archaeozoology: study of ancient faunal remains
Molecular anthropology: DNA analysis on osteoarchaeological finds

- 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.
The slides are available on e-learning

The professor receives students by appointment: marta.licata@uninsubria.it