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Forensic Anthropology: Principles and Practice

Module description

Forensic Anthropology is a rapidly evolving sub-field of Biological Anthropology that applies anthropological principles and techniques to recover evidence for criminal, humanitarian and mass disaster investigations. In this module you will acquire an in-depth understanding of the techniques, methods and processes used by forensic anthropologists and other forensic specialists to gather evidence to solve problems and answer questions of legal significance. The module will start by discussing the different contexts in which forensic anthropologists are employed, both domestically and internationally. The module will then move through the different phases of human remains casework in chronological order – from crime scene to court. 

This module is core if you are studying the MSc in Bioarchaeology (Forensic Anthropology), but is also available as an option for other Masters students.

Module aims - intentions of the module

• To provide you with an advanced level of understanding of the role of the forensic anthropologist from crime scene to court.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate understanding of the methods used to search for and recover human remains
• 2. Demonstrate understanding the techniques and methods used to assist with the identification of human remains (macroscopic, microscopic, metric and biomolecular)
• 3. Demonstrate understanding the key concepts of forensic taphonomy
• 4. Demonstrate understanding the process of decomposition and its impact on human remains
• 5. Demonstrate understanding the impact that burial practices can have on the preservation and analysis of human remains
• 6. Demonstrate understanding the structure of the police force in the United Kingdom
• 7. Demonstrate an awareness of the work undertaken by forensic anthropologists in criminal, humanitarian and mass disaster contexts, both nationally and internationally
• 8. Demonstrate an awareness of the capabilities of other forensic specialisms

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 9. Show initiative in interpreting a variety of information forms
• 10. Demonstrate familiarity with the literature base relevant to forensic anthropology

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 11. Demonstrate competence in summarising published research
• 12. Demonstrate a competent knowledge base in written work
• 13. Demonstrate proficiency in written presentation skills

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Forensic anthropology: Its development and use in criminal, humanitarian and mass disaster investigations
• International legislation and admissibility regulations
• The search for and detection of human remains
• The recovery and recording of human remains
• The process of decomposition
• Forensic taphonomy
• Biological profiling in forensic contexts
• The assessment of manner and/or cause of death
• Establishing the identity of decedents: Macroscopic, microscopic, metric and biomolecular approaches

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Blau, S. and Ubelaker, D.H., 2009: Handbook of Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology. Walnut Creek: Left Coast Press.
• Boddington, A., Garland, A.N. and Janaway, R.C., 1987: Death, Decay and Reconstruction: Approaches to Archaeology and Forensic Science.
• Brickley, M. and Ferllini, R., 2007: Forensic Anthropology Case Studies from Europe. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas.
• Byers, S,N., 2011: Introduction to forensic anthropology. Harlow: Pearson Education.
• Evis, L., 2016. Forensic Archaeology: The Application of Comparative Excavation Methods and Recording Systems. Oxford: Archaeopress Publishing. 
• Fibiger, L. and Ubelaker, D.H., 2016: Forensic Archaeology (Four Volumes). Oxford: Routledge.
• Galloway, A., 1999: Broken bones: anthropological analysis of blunt force trauma. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas.
• Groen, M.W.J., Marquez-Grant, N. and Janaway, R., 2015: Forensic Archaeology: A Global Perspective. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Gunn, A. 2019: Essential Forensic Biology. Third Edition. Chichester: Wiley.
• Haglund, W.D. and Sorg, M.H., 1997: Forensic Taphonomy: The Postmortem Fate of Human Remains. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
• Haglund, W.D. and Sorg, M.H., 2002: Advances in Forensic Taphonomy: Method, Theory and Archaeological Perspectives. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
• Hunter, J. and Cox, M., 2015: Forensic Archaeology: Advances in Theory and Practice. London: Routledge.
• Hunter, J., Roberts, C. and Martin, A., 1996: Studies in Crime: An Introduction to Forensic Archaeology. London: Batsford.
• Hunter, J. Simpson, B. and Colls, C.S., 2013: Forensic Approaches to Buried Remains. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Klepinger, L., 2006: Fundamentals of Forensic Anthropology. Chichester: Wiley-Liss.
• Schmidt, C.W. and Symes, S.A., 2008: The Analysis of Burned Human Remains. London: Academic Press.
• Moran, K.S. and Gold, C.L., 2019: Forensic Archaeology: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Cham: Springer.
• Richards, M.P. and Britton, K., 2020: Archaeological Science: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11775

Key words search

Archaeology, Bioarchaeology, Forensic Science, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Investigation