Palaeoanthropology, physical anthropology, forensic anthropology and primatology contribute to a number of units offered at the University of New England. Up until 1998 these were offered in the Department of Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology, however, there have been several restructures at UNE over the last decade and Palaeoanthropology is now located in the School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Within this School there are four units, described below, which cover aspects of Palaeoanthropology, at least as broadly defined. These are the first year unit in human evolution, and the palaeoanthropology, forensic anthropology and human adaptation (not offered until 2011) units which can be taken after first year.
These units can contribute to the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science at UNE. They are available to external (distance) students and are currently taught online using the "Mooodle" platform. All have extensive course notes in booklet form which provide summaries of lectures and text book chapters and a variety of resources to help with essay writing, library searches, study skills and laboratory reports. For example, the online skeleton is a chapter from the forensic anthropology booklet. Information on the Australian price of the textbooks we are using is also provided. It is often argued that Australians pay a lot for books but given the realities of our isolation, buying power and exchange rate the textbooks we have chosen are not too expensive. As an alternative I have included prices and links to www.amazon.com. When you factor in exchange rates and postage you may find their books cost much more than Australian prices.
Subject to staff availability, students are able to undertake postgraduate research towards a PhD in Palaeoanthropology at the University of New England. However, prospective students should carefully consider all of the available postgraduate options, as well the implications for their lifestyle and potential future employment prospects, before enrolling. In Australia students are also able to undertake postgraduate research in human evolution and physical anthropology at the Australian National University in Canberra. There are advantages to being at the ANU where there is a more substantial research infrastructure and access to greater range of specialist expertise, for instance in human genetics, primatology and archaeological chronology. Overseas opportunities for postgraduate research are greatest in the United Kingdom (particularly Cambridge University and University College London), and North America.
| ARPA 102 Human Evolution |
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| ARPA 326 Palaeoanthropology | |
| ARPA 336 Forensic Anthropology | |
| Publications: copies of some of Peter Brown's publications can be found here |
ARPA 102 Human Evolution
Availability: Available only for external students in second semester of 2010 and first semester of 2011. This unit does not have a Residential School.
Coordinator: From 2012 Dr Luca Fiorenza.
Lecturers: The teaching and assessment in this unit is provided by Dr Luca Fiorenza.
Objectives: Students who successfully complete this unit should:
* have a broad knowledge of the evolution of our species from the emergence of the first hominids to the appearance of modern humans;
* be aware of the genetic and environmental factors contributing to the evolution of our species, including modern human diversity;
* be familiar with the major areas of controversy in human evolution, including the evolution of bipedal locomotion, increasing brain size and the origins and dispersion of anatomically modern humans;
* have a general knowledge of human skeletal and dental anatomy.
Content: This unit examines the evidence for the evolution of our species via the hominid fossil record and associated archaeological materials. Although it will concentrate on producing an overview, some topics, for instance the origins of bipedal locomotion, will be treated in greater detail. Modern humans, as well as our ancestors, will be compared with non-human primates before a series of lectures on the hominid fossil record. Particular attention will be paid to the evolution and divergence of the African Pliocene hominids, including Australopithecus, Paranthropus and Homo. Other issues examined in the first part of the unit include the relationship of the Neandertals to modern Europeans and the prehistoric colonisation of Australia. To a large degree the order and progress of the weekly topics will follow the chapter order in the prescribed text.
Assessment
External students: an essay and an end of semester examination.
Prescribed text
Jurmain, R., et al. 2011. Essentials of Physical Anthropology, 8th edition. West (paperback). e-book.
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rrp of Jurmain et al at United Campus Bookshop 12/08/05 approx AUS$90 www.amazon.com US$79.95 plus postage |
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Availability: Available to external students in second semester of 2012. This unit does not have a Residential School.
Coordinator: From 2012 the teaching and assessment of this unit will be provided by Dr Luca Fiorenza.
Objectives: Students who successfully complete this unit should:
* have a detailed knowledge of the evolution of our species from the emergence of the first hominids to the appearance of modern humans;
* be familiar with the ongoing areas of controversy in human evolution and be able to critically assess aspects of these debates;
* gain experience in the application of a range of osteological and palaeontological techniques.
Content: This unit examines the evolution of our species through a survey of the hominid fossil record and associated archaeological materials. Persistent themes will be why there are hominids and how the evolution of our species differs from that in other hominoid primates. The unit begins with a series of lectures providing background information on methodological and theoretical issues. These are designed to improve your ability to critically assess and understand the published literature. Topics range from dating to phylogenetic reconstruction and aspects of primate anatomy. The main part of the unit is concerned with the Pliocene African sites and the first hominids. Emphasis will be placed on behavioural and physiological models for the evolution of bipedal locomotion, reconstruction of hominid diet, evidence for increasing encephalisation and body size and the interaction between cultural and biological processes. Other topics of importance in this unit are the origins and dispersion of Homo sapiens and the factors which have influenced the evolution, divergence and adaptation of our species during the Holocene.
Assessment: There will be one practical report, one essay and an end of semester examination.
Prescribed Book
Stanford, C., Allen, J.S. Anton, S.C. 2008. Exploring biological anthropology. Pearson.
ARPA 336 Forensic Anthropology
Availability: Next available to external students in first semester 2012. This unit does not currently have a Residential School.
Quota: There will be a quota of 60 students in 2012.
Coordinator: All of the teaching and assessment in this unit is provided by Professor Peter Brown (pbrown3@une.edu.au)
Objectives: Students who successfully complete this unit should:
* obtain an overview of the procedures available to forensic osteologists. These include methods used to determine sex, assess age at death, estimate stature, determine ethnic origin, and document health status and evidence of trauma;
* obtain a detailed knowledge of the problems associated with the application of forensic osteological procedures in Australia;
* be able to critically assess and apply appropriate forensic procedures;
* be able to prepare and complete a case report.
* have a detailed knowledge of human skeletal and dental anatomy.
Content: This unit provides a broad overview of the methods used by forensic osteologists to reconstruct life history from human skeletal remains and associated environmental and cultural materials. The emphasis of this unit is on the selection and application of appropriate osteological methods to solve specific forensic problems. This can be a difficult task in Australia where many of the established procedures, developed to deal with North American problems, are inappropriate. Students are required to complete two detailed case reports based on a variety of forensic information, including photographs, radiographs, casts of bones and metrical data, which will be supplied to them. The aim is to obtain as much reliable information about the deceased as possible, given the limitations of the information available.
Assessment: There will be two case reports and an end of semester examination.
Prescribed Book
Brown, P. In progress. Forensic Osteology (Unit Booklet).
Byers, S.N. 2007. Introduction to forensic anthropology, 3rd edition. Pearson, Boston.
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rrp of Byers at United Campus Bookshop 21/04/05 AUS$86 www.amazon.com US$35.93 plus postage |
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