Preservation & decay
Course details
- Location Online, Wrexham
Why choose this course?
Are you interested in learning about how fossils are formed and preserved? This course aims to provide a holistic introduction to the science of taphonomy; how organismal remains decay and enter the archaeological and palaeontological record.
Key course features
- Discover the core principles of the science of taphonomy
- Learn about types of preservation and destructive processes
- Investigative approaches and experimental practices involved in incorporating taphonomic information in forensic, archaeological and palaeontological studies.
What you will study
- The principles of taphonomy – decay and pathways to preservation
- History and current state of the science
- Taphonomy in deep time
- Palaeontological considerations
- Mineralogical preservation
- Destructive processes
- Interpreting organismal remains Signals and noise in the fossil record
- Taphonomy in archaeology
- Perimortem/postmortem processes
- Soft vs. Hard part preservation
- Experimental taphonomy
- Biases
Entry requirements & applying
To book onto the 7th and 8th September 2022 date, please click here.
To book onto the 10th and 11th September 2022 date, please click here.
Teaching & Assessment
You will produce a portfolio of material linked to the aspects of preservation and decay covered throughout the module. This portfolio will include:
- A short written piece (maximum of 1000 words) explaining taphonomic principles
- Records of assessments of biological remains and experimental observations
You will also be assessed on other supporting evidence gathered from workshops and practicals undertaken across the module.
Fees & funding
£95
Course dates
Course 1 – Online content will be available from the 8th of August. Practical face-to-face sessions will take place over 2 days; Wednesday the 7th & Thursday the 8th of September.
Course 2 – Online content will be available from the 8th August. Practical face-to-face sessions will take place over 2 days; Saturday the 10th & Sunday the 11th of September.
-2-1360x1360.jpg)
