ANT 4468 – Bones, Bodies, and Disease

Spring 2019
MWF 11:15-12:05 pm, HCB 215

Instructor: Dr. Geoffrey P. Thomas

Email: gpthomas@fsu.edu

Office: 102 Anthropology Department

Office Hours: M 1-2 or T 10:30-11:30 or by Apt .

Course Content:
This course introduces students to Paleopathology. Bone, Bodies, and Disease shows how the
latest scientific and archaeological techniques can be used to identify the common illnesses and
injuries that humans suffered in antiquity. In order to give a vivid picture of ancient disease and
trauma, results of the latest scientific research that incorporate information gathered from
documents are presented. This comprehensive approach to the subject throws fresh light on the
health of our ancestors and on the conditions in which they lived, and it gives us an intriguing
insight into the ways in which they coped with the pain and discomfort of their existence.

Course Outcomes:
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Define the basic principles and describe the history of Paleopathology as a subfield of
anthropology
2) List all of the bones in the human skeleton
3) Describe the development of multiple diseases as they relate to prehistoric cultural
conditions
4) Describe how multiple diseases, such as infections, dietary deficiencies, genetic
disorders, and degenerative diseases affect the human skeleton.
5) Distinguish between artificial and natural mummification practices as well as prehistoric
forms of surgery from around the world and throughout history

Required Text:
2005 Roberts, Charlotte and Keith Manchester. The Archaeology of Disease (3rd
Edition). The History Press Ltd. ISBN-13: 9780752457505

Grading:
Attendance at lectures and videos is required. There will be a total of 3 exams, which includes
the CUMULATIVE FINAL. Each of the 2 semester exams will be worth 100 points of your
grade and the FINAL will be worth 150 points. The semester exams will consist of 50 multiple-
choice questions and the FINAL will be 75 multiple-choice questions. 50 points will also come

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from participation in 2 laboratory activities during the semester (each worth 25 points). 50 point
will come from the completion of a written Pathology Report as well.
Attendance and participation are mandatory. The exam questions will be derived specifically
from what is covered in lecture. In addition, 5 attendance quizzes will be given at random
during the semester. Each of these quizzes will add an additional point to your overall
average. There are no make-up attendance quizzes.

Make-up Exams:
If you miss an exam it is your responsibility to contact me at least 48 hours prior to or 24 hours
after the exam date to schedule a make-up. Only those students who submit documentation of
a legitimate university approved excuse for missing an exam will be allowed to take a
make-up. They will be scheduled on an individual basis.
Excused absences include:
Documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises, call to active military
duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University activities. These absences will be
accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid excuse.
Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children experience serious illness.

Incompletes:
Absolutely no incompletes are given in this class. If you are having problems, you should
withdraw from the class.

Exam 1 100 points

Exam 2 100 points
2 Lab Assignments 50 points
Pathology Report 50 points
Final Exam 150 points
______________________________________________________
Total 450 possible points + Attendance

Letter grades for the class will be:

A- = 90-92%, A = 93-100%
B- = 80-82%, B = 83-86%, B+ = 87-89%
C- = 70-72%, C = 73-76%, C+ = 77-79%
D- = 60-62%, D = 63-66%, D+ = 67-69%
F = < 60%

Student Conduct:
Students are expected to follow the FSU Student Conduct Code
(http://srr.fsu.edu/conduct/code.htm) and to behave appropriately in the classroom. Please do not
disturb others who are trying to learn. Use the restroom and pencil sharpener before class begins.
 Wait for the instructor to finish and dismiss class before closing your books, zipping
backpacks, etc.
 Phones and all other electronic devices may not be visible in the classroom, and must be
turned off and put away at all times. No texting is allowed even during films. Any student

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 whose cell phone or pager makes noise and disrupts others during class may be dismissed
from class for that day, regardless of the class activity. These devises include but are not
limited to phones, PDAs, MP3 players, iPods, etc.
 Laptop computers are not allowed to be used during class, as they are too distracting for
students, yourself and your professor. Any laptop usage will result in the student being
dismissed from class for that day regardless of the activity. If special circumstances
require your use of a laptop, you may speak to me in person for an exception to this
policy.
 Tardiness & leaving class early are not tolerated without expressed permission from me.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

Week 1:
Introduction: What is Anthropology?
Introduction: The Study of Paleopathology, Ch 1

Week 2:
The History of Paleopathology, Ch 1
Back to Basics – Methods of Analysis, Ch 2

Week 3: NO CLASS MONDAY – JAN 21st

Congenital Diseases – Axial Skeleton, Ch 3
Congenital Diseases – Appendicular and body deformations, Ch 3

Week 4:
Dental Diseases – Reconstructing Diet, Ch 4
Dental Diseases – Culture and Health, Ch 4

Week 5:
Trauma – Types of Fractures and Causes, Ch 5
Trauma – Case Study – Pacatnamu Warfare

Week 6: EXAM 1 (Chapters 1-4) – Monday Feb 11th

Trauma – Trepanation and Amputation, Ch 5

Week 7: LAB 1 – AGING AND SEXING SKELETONS

Trauma – Trophy Collection, Ch 5
Trauma – wrap-up, Ch 5

Week 8:
Joint Disease – Anatomy of Joints and Arthritis, Ch 6
Joint Disease – Activity markers and Immune diseases, Ch 6

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Week 9: PATHOLOGY REPORT DUE ONLINE – Friday, Mar 8th
Infectious Disease – Non-Specific, Ch 7
Infectious Disease – Specific, Ch 7

Week 10:
Infectious Disease – Historic Data, Ch 7
Dietary Deficiencies and Metabolic Diseases, Ch 8

Week 11: NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

Week 12:
EXAM 2 (Chapters 5-7) – Friday, Mar. 29th
Dietary Deficiencies and Metabolic Diseases, Ch8

Week 13: LAB 2 – DETERMINE THE DISEASE

Neoplastic Disease – Benign and Malignant tumors, Ch 9
Cultural Modification – Cranial Deformation and dental modification Ch 5

Week 14:
Cultural Modification – Tattooing and foot binding
Introduction to Mummification

Week 15:
Mummies

Week 16:
Mummies Film
Wrap-up and Review

CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAM: THURSDAY, MAY 2nd 12:30 – 2:30 pm in classroom

All students must take the exam as scheduled or they will receive a zero. There are no
exceptions unless they meet FSU policy and permission from the instructor and Dean has
been met in advance of the exam.

University Attendance Policy:

Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and other documented crises,
call to active military duty or jury duty, religious holy days, and official University activities.
These absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who
have a valid excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children
experience serious illness.

Academic Honor Policy:

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The Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the University’s expectations for
the integrity of students’ academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those
expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the
process. Students are responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living up to
their pledge to “. . . be honest and truthful and . . . [to] strive for personal and institutional
integrity at Florida State University.” (Florida State University Academic Honor Policy, found at
http://dof.fsu.edu/honorpolicy.htm.)

Americans With Disabilities Act:

Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should:
(1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and
(2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This
should be done during the first week of class.

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Syllabus Change Policy

Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading)
statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.