ANTH 2310

Students will examine concepts, theories, and methods that archaeologists use to analyze the funerary rituals and burial practices of ancient, historical, and recent societies around the world. Students will evaluate survey and mapping methods, visual and spatial analysis, and preservation and restoration techniques at different types of mortuary sites. They will explore social and ideological aspects of mortuary behaviours and how different social groups use these in the construction of memory and identity. Students will consider ethical and legal issues involved in the analysis of human remains and other mortuary materials found in archaeological sites and the importance of understanding cultural perspectives and beliefs, with special attention to Indigenous peoples.