Funerary Archaeology

Week One – Viking Funerary Practices

• Introduction to funerary archaeology 
• Cremation 
• Would you cremate?
• Introduction to Viking funerary practices 
• Group research project on preparation of the body, grave goods, sacrifice and the mythology of funerary practice of the Vikings 
• Group Presentations and peer assessed 
• Discussion

Week Two – Stonehenge

• Introduction to the history of Stonehenge 
• Landscape of Stonehenge
• Passage of life and death 
• Investigation of the folklore of Stonehenge including the examination of research papers 
• Discussion 
• Group research project on the Druids and Stonehenge – history of their relationship including the winter and summer solstice
• Group presentations and peer assessed 

Week Three – Examination of Human Remains

• Introduction to forensic anthropology 
• Examination of human remains 
• Estimation of sex 
• Estimation of sex using the skull and hips 
• Estimation of age at death 
• Estimation of age at death using skull and teeth 
• Calculation of stature 

Week Four – Egyptology part 1

• Introduction to Ancient Egyptian History & the East Bank of the Nile
• Egyptian Symbols 
• Archaeology & Stories of Luxor Temple 
• Archaeology & Stories of Karnak Temple 
• Stories of Kom Ombo Temple 
• The Love Story of Philae Temple 

Week Five – Egyptology part 2

• Journey along the West Bank 
• Stories of Ed Fu Temple 
• The female pharaoh – Temple of Hatshepsut 
• Valley of the Kings – Learners to choose a pharaoh to research about their life, death and discovery & archaeology of their tomb 
• Group Presentation and peer assessment 
• Discussion

Week Six – Cannibalism

• Introduction to the history of cannibalism 
• Case studies of cannibalism for survival 
• Theories of cannibalism as a ritual 
• Research on the archaeological evidence of cannibalism 
• Group Presentation and peer assessment 
• Disease of cannibalism 
• Discussion

Week Seven – Archaeology of Disease

• Introduction to the archaeological evidence of disease 
• How did we care for the infirm? 
• Investigation of the archaeology of infirmary graveyards 
• Archaeology of Leprosy 
• The Black Death 
• Discussion

Week Eight – Research Project

• Learners are given a research pack on a specific funerary practice including a research title and outline of project as well as academic papers, suggested websites and suggested reading on the subject.  Learners are to complete the group research project for assessed presentation in any media format of their choice 
• Group presentations & formal assessment 
• Discussion

NOTE: Some activities involve learners working with real human remains.  All scheme of works and risk assessments are available upon request

Certificates are issued to all attendees of the workshop upon completion