Corporate Communications
Press Release |
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22 May 2003
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Delegates from around the world are gathering at the University of Bradford to share their knowledge of biological anthropology - topics which range from human evolution and diseases of the skeleton to ancient DNA studies.
The Biological Anthropology Research Centre (BARC) Inauguration and Symposium is being held at the University's Department of Archaeological Sciences on Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24.
The Department of Archaeological Sciences recently moved into refurbished and fitted new premises on campus. A spacious building houses the Human Remains Collection and the newly formed Centre comprising a suite of specialist laboratories. The formal inauguration of the Centre will be celebrated with an opening ceremony on Friday, May 23 and a symposium, 'Biological Anthropology at the Interface of Science and Humanities', on Saturday, May 24.
The Opening Ceremony will include a keynote speech from renowned British Biological Anthropology expert Don Brothwell, short contributions from members of BARC and the unveiling of a plaque in honour of Dr Keith Manchester's contribution to the Human Remains Collection at Bradford.
The Saturday will see a Symposium with 11 invited speakers that takes stock of this discipline by exploring the wide range of research fields that constitute the fascinating blend of biological anthropology. The scope of presentations will range from human evolution to diseases of the skeleton, diet and migration in past populations or ancient DNA studies. Speakers include Leslie Aiello (London), Don Ortner (Washington), Rick Steckel (Ohio State) and Douglas Price (Madison). The two-day event is being co-ordinated by Dr Holger Schutkowski from the University's Department of Archaeological Sciences.
Dr Schutkowski said: "We are particularly pleased to welcome colleagues from all over the world to our inauguration. Attracting leading experts in the field of Biological Anthropology, the symposium provides a broad overview of the human body in the past. It aims to address topics that reflect the close interrelationship between human biology and culture that is so characteristic of Biological Anthropology.
"Much of this can be identified from the skeletal record, and participants will gain a valuable opportunity to discuss a broad range of issues including the prevalence of disease in response to environmental conditions, activity-related features as a result of subsistence mode or occupation, dietary patterns as a direct outcome of agricultural practices and access to resources.
"The unravelling of skeletal change in the course of human evolution, the establishment of biological identity from human remains or even the symbolic meaning of the skeleton come as natural ramifications of this theme. They derive much of their analytical repertoire from techniques associated with Biological Anthropology."
Programme
| Friday, May 23 | |
| 3pm - 3.20pm | Welcome addresses by Mark Pollard (Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation) and Holger Schutkowski |
| 3.20pm - 3.50pm | Keynote lecture, Don Brothwell, York The British way? History of Biological Anthropology in northwestern Europe |
| 3.50pm - 4pm | Christopher
Knüsel When Adam Delved and Eve Span There Were, of course, No Gentlemen: Social Differentiation in the Past |
| 4pm - 4.10pm | Darlene Weston Hereford and the Black Death: the Hereford Cathedral Close Cemetery |
| 4.10pm - 4.20pm | Anthea Boylston
Paget's disease at Norton Priory, near Runcorn in Cheshire |
| 4.20pm - 4.30pm | Alan Ogden Palaeopathology of teeth and jaws - Current Research |
| 4.30pm - 4.40pm | Robert Pastor
The taphonomy of soft tissue preservation in anaerobic conditions |
| 4.40pm - 4.50pm | Holger Schutkowski Food web analysis of a medieval village |
| 4.50pm - 5pm | Mike Richards
The evolution of hominid diets: the biomolecular evidence |
| 5pm - 5.30pm | Guided tour through the new premises Unveiling of plaque in honour of Dr Keith Manchester |
| Saturday, May 24 | |
| 8.45am - 9.15am | Leslie Aiello,
UC London Why hominids still matter to our modern understanding of human evolution |
| 9.15am - 9.45am | John
Robb, Cambridge The Body Politic |
| 9.45am - 10.15am | Richard
Steckel, Ohio State, London SE Biological Measures of the Standard of Living |
| 10.30am -11am | Donald
Ortner, Washington D.C. Ecology, Culture and Disease |
| 11am - 11.30am | Sue
Black OBE, CIFA, Glasgow Forensic Anthropology Serving Justice |
| 11.30am - 12pm | Richard
Smith, Jim Oeppen, Cambridge How social status affects mortality over the long term |
| 1pm - 1.30pm | Louise
Humphrey, Natural History Museum, London Enamel traces of early life events |
| 1.30pm - 2pm | Gabriele
Macho, Liverpool The fossil evidence of seasonality: direct and indirect evidence of environmental changes |
| 2pm - 2.30pm | Matthew
Collins, Newcastle What remains to be detected? |
| 2.30pm - 3pm | Martin
Richards, Huddersfield Ancient and modern DNA as tools for understanding the human past |
| 3pm - 3.30pm | Douglas
Price, Madison Isotopes and Human Migration: Case Studies in Biogeochemistry |
Photo opportunities
Photographs following the event will be available from the Press Office. To order any copies, please see contact details below.
| General University Press contacts |
For further media information, please contact Rachael Ellis in Corporate Communications on (01274) 233084/0787 9437986 or Emma Scales on (01274) 233089. Alternatively, e-mail press@bradford.ac.uk or fax on (01274) 235460.
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