Man's Best Friend?
Using Animal Bones to Solve an Archaeological Mystery
Author(s)
Department of Anthropology
University of North Dakota
elizabeth.scharf@und.nodak.edu
Abstract
In this case, students learn how archaeology operates as an historical science by collecting and analyzing material evidence to make claims about the past. Assuming the role of zooarchaeologists, they evaluate a hypothetical case in which “Dr. Jasper Eraillure” shocks the world by claiming a canid skull he has found at a Neanderthal site is actually that of a domestic dog. Students analyze modern skulls from wild and domestic canids, and develop a set of criteria for determining whether the “unknown” canid skull belonged to a domestic dog. They further explore the reasons behind the divergence between wild and domestic dog populations and evaluate the potential impact of Dr. Eraillure’s assertions on our understanding of the past. The case was designed for an introductory course in archaeology, but could be adpated for use in an introductory biology course.
Objectives
- Make logical arguments linking present-day observations on objects to past behaviors.
- Understand the definition of domestication and the difference between captive and domestic animals.
- Learn skull anatomy and technical terminology by applying these to the case.
- Be able to differentiate between observations and interpretations.
- Practice making primary observations on archaeologically observable phenomena.
- Be able to make distinctions between phenotype and genotype.
Keywords
Canids; domestic dogs; domestication; canine evolution; phenotype; genotype; cranial anatomy; skull; zooarchaeology, material evidenceTopical Areas
N/AEducational Level
High school, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper divisionFormat
PDFType / Methods
InterruptedLanguage
EnglishSubject Headings
Evolutionary Biology | Paleontology | Anthropology | Zoology |
Date Posted
07/22/08Teaching Notes
Case teaching notes are password-protected and access to them is limited to paid subscribed instructors. To become a paid subscriber, begin the process by registering.
Teaching notes are intended to help teachers select and adopt a case. They typically include a summary of the case, teaching objectives, information about the intended audience, details about how the case may be taught, and a list of references and resources.
Answer Key
Answer keys for the cases in our collection are password-protected and access to them is limited to paid subscribed instructors. To become a paid subscriber, begin the process by registering.