Taphonomy

Code: BIO14700M

3 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences, Geology

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

This CU is designed to address the most relevant issues that any professional needs to understand. Namely, the state of preservation of biological materials, and how they limit the approaches of Biological Anthropology and Geochemical Analysis, and the reconstruction of funerary practices.

Sustainable Development Goals

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Trabalho digno e crescimento económico - Promover o crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável, emprego pleno e produtivo, e trabalho decente para todos.

Learning Goals

Understanding the nature and action of taphonomic processes.
How microbes affect and are affected by decomposition.
Understanding the effects of taphonomic factors on the characteristics of osteological specimens from archaeological provenance.
Understanding the role of taphonomy in the reconstitution of funerary practices.

1. Basic concepts of taphonomy and types of samples.
2. The chemistry of decomposition.
2.1 Autolysis.
2.2 Putrefaction and skeletonization: degradation of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids.
3. Recording taphonomic changes during fieldwork.
4. Intrinsic taphonomic factors (sex, age, diseases) and extrinsic biotic (fauna, flora and soil microorganisms) and abiotic (water, pH, temperature) factors.
5. Decomposition in closed or open spaces.
6. Taphonomy and pseudopathology.
7. Taphonomy in the understanding of mortuary practices.

Teaching Methods

TP classes with audiovisual support, using the Moodle platform and scientific articles. Students will also have bones from archaeological contexts in different states of preservation for visualization and interpretation of the taphonomic factors action. Case studies will be presented and discussed.

Assessment

The evaluation will consist of written tests to be carried out through two midterm exams. This written tests will have the same weight for the final grade. There will also be the possibility of a final exam, according with the Academic Regulation of the University of Évora.