UCL Institute of Archaeology

Biological Anthropology

The Institute of Archaeology has an international reputation for the biological study of human remains from archaeological sites. One research focus is the process of growth in remains of children, particularly through the microscopic layered growth of dental enamel. Another focus is palaeopathology, including both skeletal and dental disease, diagnostic and epidemiological problems. We are active in research on the past half million years of human evolution, particularly the morphology of teeth and jaws and the heavy tooth wear which they show. As part of our work, we have also developed new techniques for excavating, conserving, recording and storing human remains, from cemetery sites in Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Peru.

Research

Projects

• Archaeology of growth and development in children
• The Archaeology of the Western Isles (Outer Hebrides)
  
• The Beaker People
  
• Çatalhöyük
• Diet and dental disease
• Experimental Forensic Analyses
  
• Function and form of teeth in human evolution
• Selmeston, East Sussex Anglo-Saxon cemetery
  

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People

• Anna Clement
• Roxana Ferllini
• Simon Hillson
• Michael Pante
• James Steele
• Ignacio de la Torre

Degrees

• BA in Archaeology and Anthropology
• BA or BSc in Archaeology
• MSc in Forensic Archaeological Science
• MSc in Palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic Archaeology
• MSc in Skeletal and Dental Bioarchaeology

Courses

undergraduate

• Early Hominin Societies in Africa
• The emergence and spread of modern humans
• The Archaeology of Human Remains

graduate

• Morphology and palaeopathology of the human skeleton
• Variation and evolution of the human skull
• Dental anthropology
• Methodology and issues in bioarchaeology and palaeoepidemiology
• Palaeoanthropology
• Primate Evolution
• Advanced Human Evolution
• Anthropological and Archaeological Genetics
• Primate Socioecology

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