Written in Bone: Using Human Skeletons to Understand the Ancient Past Syllabus

Since the earliest days of archaeology, scholars and the general public have been fascinated by skeletons recovered from ancient sites. However, human remains are more than a physical bridge between the present and a romanticized past—they also encode valuable information about the identities and daily lives of past peoples. Bioarchaeology is the study of human skeletal remains from archaeological sites. This course will draw upon bioarchaeological case studies from multiple regions and time periods to explore the ways in which researchers use skeletal data to deepen our understanding of ancient lives, while also critically evaluating how such discoveries are portrayed by the popular media. In class discussions and written assignments, students will engage with debates about how past peoples treated their dead, conceived of personhood, experienced violence and disease, and organized their communities. Over the course of the seminar, students will learn how to formulate clear arguments, draw upon scientific evidence, and develop strategies for writing and revising academic papers. Class time will also be devoted to developing key writing and research skills, such as structuring academic papers, identifying appropriate sources, and interpreting and responding to feedback. Overall, this course will introduce students to the ways in which bioarchaeologists collect evidence from human skeletons to better understand the lived experiences of past individuals and communities.First-year writing seminar taught at Vassar College in Fall 2019