Identifying Data 2022/23
Subject (*) Zooarchaeology Code 710537021
Study programme
Máster Universitario en Arqueoloxía e Ciencias da Antigüidade
Descriptors Cycle Period Year Type Credits
Official Master's Degree 2nd four-month period
 First Optional 3
Language
Spanish
Teaching method Face-to-face
Prerequisites
Department Física e Ciencias da Terra
Coordinador
Grandal D`Anglade, Aurora
 E-mail
aurora.grandal@udc.es
Lecturers
Grandal D`Anglade, Aurora
 E-mail
aurora.grandal@udc.es
Web
General description A Zooarqueología é a disciplina que se ocupa do estudo dos restos faunísticos nos xacementos arqueolóxicos, xa sexan de animais domésticos ou de fauna silvestre, procedentes da caza ou a recolección. Pódense atopar como produtos de refugallo da alimentación dos humanos, ou mesmo concentrados en vertedoiros, concheiros, etc. Tamén poden atoparse noutros contextos, por exemplo, como ofrendas funerarias, adornos, industria ósea, etc. En calquera destes casos, os restos animais ofrecen unha importante información sobre o modo de vida e a economía das sociedades humanas, información que se pode obter desde diferentes aproximacións mediante a aplicación de distintas técnicas analíticas.

Study programme competencies
Code Study programme competences
A1 (CE-1) Ser capaz de preparar e redactar informes históricos e arqueolóxicos, adaptándose ao tipo de actividade que se desenvolva.
A5 (CE-5) Adquirir as capacidades necesarias para dirixir actividades de campo, de prospección e de escavación arqueolóxica e de tratamento e estudo de materiais e mostras.
B6 ( CG-1) Que os estudantes demostrasen unha comprensión sistemática dun campo de estudo e o dominio das habilidades e métodos de investigación relacionados co devandito campo;
B7 ( CG-2) Que os estudantes demostrasen a capacidade de concibir, deseñar, poñer en práctica e adoptar un proceso substancial de investigación con seriedade académica;
B9 ( CG-4) Que os estudantes sexan capaces de realizar unha análise crítica, avaliación e síntese de ideas novas e complexas;
B11 ( CG-6) Que se lles supoña capaces de fomentar, en contextos académicos e profesionais, o avance tecnolóxico, social ou cultural dentro dunha sociedade baseada no coñecemento.
B12 ( CG-7) Que os estudantes demostrasen ao longo da investigación capacidade para establecer relacións mutuas entre os tres eixos principais que configuran o programa: histórico, arqueolóxico-artístico e lingüístico-literario.
B14 ( CG-9) Que sexan capaces de abrir vías de especialización novas no ámbito dos estudos arqueolóxicos.
C1 ( CT-1) Utilizar bibliografía e ferramentas de procura de recursos bibliográficos xenerais e específicos, que inclúe o acceso por Internet, vendo as súas enormes posibilidades e potenciando a capacidade discriminatoria do alumno sobre os seus contidos.
C2 ( CT-2) Xestionar de forma óptima o tempo de traballo e organizar os recursos dispoñibles, establecendo prioridades, camiños alternativos e identificando erros na toma de decisións.
C3 ( CT-3) Potenciar a capacidade de traballo en equipo, en contornas cooperativas, pluridisciplinares ou de alto nivel competitivo.

Learning aims
Learning outcomes Study programme competences
Know the different types of information provided by the faunal remains present in an archaeological context. BC6
BC11
BC12
BC14
 CC1
Know the conservation problems of faunal remains depending on the different archaeological contexts and identify the processes that have affected them until their recovery and study. AC5
 BC6
BC7
Know the most appropriate systems for the recovery and sampling of these remains in a site and evaluate their representativeness. AC5
 BC6
BC7
Know the analysis procedures in the field of zooarchaeology, from the most descriptive (morphological, metric) to those of biomolecular archaeology. To learn to choose between different analysis strategies according to the problem to be solved. AC1
AC5
 BC6
BC9
BC14
 CC2
To be able to interpret the results obtained from analyses within the framework of archaeological research. AC1
 BC9
BC11
BC14
 CC1
CC3

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
1. Zooarqueology. Resources and objectives
2. Recovery of faunal remains 2.1. Which ones, how many and how.
2.2. Types of deposits and sampling.
2.3. Laboratory processing.
3. Taphonomy 3.1. Biostratinomic and diagenetic processes.
3.2. Natural and cultural agents.
4. Taxonomic, biometric and quantitative analyses 4.1. Identification: from atlases to comparative collections.
4.2. Biometrics: what to measure.
4.3. Quantification: RN, MNI, MNE, Weight and other indexes.
4.4. Age and sex determination. Size calculation.
5. Molecular analysis 5.1. Peptide fingerprinting (ZooMS).
5.2. Stable isotopes.
5.3. Ancient DNA.
6. Introdución ás patoloxías óseas 6. Introduction to bone pathologies
7. Introduction to bone industry 7.1. Introducción á industria ósea

Planning
Methodologies / tests Competencies Ordinary class hours Student’s personal work hours Total hours
Guest lecture / keynote speech A1 B6 B11 B12 B14 C1 12 24 36
Laboratory practice A5 B7 B12 B14 C2 C3 6 6 12
Workbook A1 B9 C1 C2 0 6 6
Case study B6 B11 B12 C1 C2 C3 0 15 15
Seminar A1 B7 B12 C2 C3 3 0 3
 
Personalized attention 3 0 3
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies Description
Guest lecture / keynote speech In the theoretical classes, the teaching staff will introduce the different aspects of the syllabus through explanations of the theoretical foundations and the review of real cases.
Laboratory practice In the practical classes, students, guided by the lecturers, will handle materials and data sets in order to apply the analytical methodologies studied in the theoretical classes, obtain results and draw conclusions.

Workbook Recommended reading resources
Case study Critical analysis of case studies available in the virtual campus.
Seminar Guided discussion of the results of the case study analysis.

Personalized attention
Methodologies
Workbook
Case study
Description
3 hours of personalised attention by means of individual tutorials are planned for the resolution of doubts and the monitoring of the completion of the assigned tasks.

Assessment
Methodologies Competencies Description Qualification
Workbook A1 B9 C1 C2 Lecturas recomendadas, aplicación dos coñecementos adquiridos nos traballos prácticos 10
Laboratory practice A5 B7 B12 B14 C2 C3 Realización das tarefas 30
Seminar A1 B7 B12 C2 C3 Presentación e discusión dos resultados do traballo práctico 10
Case study B6 B11 B12 C1 C2 C3 Realización de un traballo de investigación a partir de datos publicados ou procedentes de distintas fontes 30
Guest lecture / keynote speech A1 B6 B11 B12 B14 C1 Presentación de contidos teóricos e análise de casos. Avaliarase a participación e implicación na materia. 20
 
Assessment comments

A continuous assessment strategy will be developed in which the following aspects of the subject will be assessed:
- Attendance and active participation in lectures: 20%.
- Completion of practical tasks: 40% (30% completion of practical tasks, 10% recommended reading).
- Individual development work with correct application of concepts from the syllabus: 40% (30% completion of the work, 10% guided discussion in seminars).

It will be necessary to obtain a minimum of 40% of the grade in each of these aspects in order to pass the subject.

In the second sitting, in July, the student will have to take the same type of continuous assessment tests that were taken throughout the course. The remaining 20% will be assessed by means of a written test.

In case of official dispensation, the same evaluation criteria will be followed as those applied to the face-to-face modality in the July exam session.

Grading system: expressed by means of a final numerical grade from 0 to 10 according to current legislation (Royal Decree 1125/2003 of 5 September; BOE 18 September).

Art. 16 of the Regulations for the evaluation of the academic performance of students (DOG 21 July 2011) establishes the following: "The fraudulent completion of any exercise or test required in the evaluation of a subject will result in a failing grade in the corresponding exam session, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be followed against the offending student. It shall be considered fraudulent, among others, the performance of plagiarised work or work obtained from sources accessible to the public without reworking or reinterpretation and without citation of the authors and sources".

Sources of information
Basic

Albarella, U. (2017) The Oxford Handbook of Zooarchaeology. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Barone, R. (1976): Anatomie Comparée des Mammifères Domestiques. Tome I: Ostéologie. París: Ed. Vigot Fréres

Bartosiewicz, L. & Gál, E. (2013). Shuffling nags, lame ducks. The archaeology of animal disease. Oxford: Oxbow books.

Bejega, V., González, E. e Fernández, C. (2010). La arqueomalacología: una introducción al estudio de los restos de moluscos recuperados enyacimientos arqueológicos. Iberus (Sociedad Española de Malacología), 28: 13-22.

Brown, T. A. e Brown, K. (2011) Biomolecular Archaeology: An Introduction. John Wiley & Sons

Davis, S. (1989) La arqueología de los animales. Barcelona: Ediciones Bellaterra.

Fernández, C. (2010). Zooarqueología: recuperación, muestreo y análisis. En A.J. López & E. Ramil (eds.). Arqueoloxía: ciencia e restauración.Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueoloxía de Vilalba (Lugo). Monografías, 4. pp. 71-82.

Fernández Jalvo, Y. e Andrews, P. (2016) Atlas of Taphonomic Identifications. 1001+ Images of Fossil and Recent Mammal Bone Modification(Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology Series). Amsterdam: Springer.

Gifford-González, D. (2018) An introduction to Zooarchaeology. Amsterdam: Springer.

Hillson, S. (1996) Mammal bones and teeth. An Introductory Guide to Methods of Identification. London: University College London.

Hillson, S. (2005) Teeth. Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology (2nd edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Larsen, C.S. (2015) Bioarchaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Lyman, R.L. (2008). Quantitative paleozoology. Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Macgregor, A. (1985). Bone, Antler, Ivory & Horn. The technology of skeletal materials since the Roman period. New Jersey: Barnes & Noble Books.

Matisoo-Smith, L. e Horsburgh, K.A. (2012) DNA for Archaeologists. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press.

Michener, R. e Lajtha, K. (2008) Stable Isotopes in Ecology and Environmental Science. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

O'connor, T. (2004). The archaeology of animal bones. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing. 2nd edition.

Pales, L. e Lambert, C. (1981) Atlas ostéologique pour servir à l'identification des mammifères du quaternaire (4 tomos) París: CNRS.

Reitz, E.J. e Wing, E.S. (2008) Zooarchaeology. Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology (2nd edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Russell, N. (2011) Social Zooarchaeology. Humans and animals in prehistory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Shapiro, B. e Hofreiter, M. (2012) Ancient DNA: methods and protocols. New Jersey: Humana Press

Trigo, J., Díaz, G., García, O., Guerra, A., Moreira, J., Pérez, J., Rolán, E., Souza, J. e Urgorri, V. (2018) Guía de los moluscos de Galicia. Vigo: Servicio de publicaciones de la Universidade de Vigo.

Von Den Driesch (1976). A Guide to the Measurement of Animal Bones from Archaeological Sites. Harvard: Harvard University Press