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The University of Edinburgh: Human Osteoarchaeology

Institution The University of Edinburgh View institution profile
Department School of History, Classics and Archaeology
Web https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying
Study type Taught

Summary

Human skeletal remains are the most direct evidence of past lifeways and their scientific investigation gives unique insights into human history.

Bioarchaeology, also known as osteoarchaeology (the study of archaeological human remains), is a subdiscipline of biological anthropology. It is an exciting interdisciplinary field that draws on a variety of techniques, ranging from visual examination of the whole skeleton to the biomolecular analysis of small bone samples. Demographic shifts, environmental changes, migrations, lifestyles, numerous diseases and the impact of violence and conflict all leave traces on the skeleton.

This MSc provides the skills required to:

  • identify human remains, through detailed analytical skills

  • apply a wide-range of methods employed in the study of human remains

  • quantify and analyse scientific data

  • understand skeletal biographies

  • apply social theory

  • interpret human remains within their cultural context at both an individual and a population level

Combining theoretical learning with hands-on practice, we will provide you with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential to your handling and analysis of remains recovered from archaeological sites.

Breadth of expertise

We have a wide range of expertise covering different areas, time periods and themes, including:

  • Bioarchaeology and isotope studies

  • Egyptology

  • Roman and ‘Celtic’ archaeology

  • The Byzantine World and Late Antiquity

  • Megalithic monuments

  • Prehistory of Europe, the Mediterranean and North-East Africa

  • Early civilisations and urban societies

  • The archaeology of Scotland

  • Cultural heritage and sustainability

  • Digital heritage and heritage policy

  • Archaeomaterials analysis

  • Human evolution

  • Conflict archaeology

  • Medieval archaeology

  • Computational archaeology

  • Marine and coastal archaeology

  • Buildings archaeology

  • Archaeological survey-Landscape Archaeology

Focal areas of research include:

  • Bioarchaeology/ Human Osteoarchaeology/ Biological Anthropology

  • Human–environment interactions

  • The transition from hunter-gatherer to farming communities

  • The development of complex societies

  • Cultural heritage perspectives on the past, present, and future

MSc

Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 27th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.

Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Our …

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