Advanced Studies in Death in Antiquity

3 credits · Undergraduate

(3 hrs Lecture) This course approaches topics relating to death in antiquity (emphasizing Roman antiquity) from two disciplinary perspectives, Anthropology and Classics. Topics include beliefs and philosophies about the afterlife; causes of death, emphasizing diseases and demographics; the practicalities of planning for death and disposing of the dead; methods and significance of commemoration; rituals of grief and mourning; spatial distribution of cemeteries; methods and theories in mortuary archaeology; and analysis of osteological, artifactual and architectural data. Contemplation of cross-cultural comparisons on these and other topics under study is encouraged. This course prepares students for archaeological work at the graduate level in Classical Archaeology. Restrictions: Honours Form Required. Students may not hold credit for this course and CLAS-3320 | ANTH-3261. Requisite Courses: At least 3 credit hours in any Classics course [prerequisite(s)].