How does the physical environment affect how buried human remains change over time? How can we derive information pertaining to an individual's health from their bones after death? Human skeletons (hard tissue) are often the only evidence that is recovered during a forensic excavation of a clandestine grave but forensic investigators can still provide a huge amount of information about an individual’s life. By introducing you to the key principles underlying the way in which hard tissues grow, and by providing 'hands on’ experience that utilises a world-class collection of
pathology, you will learn how to identify trauma and basic disease processes. You will gain knowledge about post-mortem environmental (taphonomic) events and how these can be isolated and differentiated from events that occurred during life. Upon completion you will have gained theoretical knowledge and practical experience identifying markers of growth, diagnosing skeletal trauma and disease, and distinguishing these processes from taphonomy
Lecture 8 hours, Labs 20 hours, Workshops 4 hours
Taphonomy Poster worth 30%
Skeletal Trauma & Disease Practical Competency worth 20%
Written Report worth 50% (2,500 words)
Reassessment: 100% written assessment (2,000 words)
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1. Critically identify, diagnose and interpret human skeletal disease and trauma.
2. Critically discuss how specific combinations of environmental conditions can change the rate and trajectory of taphonomic processes that act upon the skeleton.
3. Critically reflect on skeletal taphonomic patterns, and articulate how these should be interpreted from an evidentiary perspective.
4. Appraise human skeletal growth markers and identify these processes in hard tissue.
5. Analyse enamel and bone histology samples, and compose appropriate reports in a Forensic Anthropology context.
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