Forensic Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains Course

Forensic Analysis of  Human Skeletal Remains Course 

This is a two-day course focused on the identification  of human skeletal remains in a field-based setting.  Day 1 will consist of hands-on instruction in a  classroom where participants will handle skeletal  remains in a working forensic anthropology  laboratory. Basic human osteology and human/nonhuman bone identification will be reviewed, as well as  a special focus on basic trauma analysis (e.g., blunt  force, sharp force, gunshot wound, burning).  Day 2 is field based where participants will work in  teams to excavate mock burials using proper  archaeological equipment and documentation  methods. Care will be taken to interpret each mock  burial in forensic and environmental context. 

Topics of  discussion and training will include:

• Basic elements of the biological profile (estimation  of age, sex, stature, etc.) 

• Human/non-human bone identification

• Interpretation of traumatic injury to the skeleton