Study information

Forensic Anthropology

Module titleForensic Anthropology
Module codeARCM704
Academic year2025/6
Credits30
Module staff

Dr Laura Evis (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

7

Number students taking module (anticipated)

20

Module description

In this module, you will gain a deep understanding and hands-on experience of the techniques, methods, and processes employed by forensic anthropologists to gather evidence for solving complex problems and answering questions of legal importance. You will develop the skills to distinguish human remains, formulate taphonomic profiles, and construct biological profiles to reconstruct an individual’s life history to help identify them, along with the circumstances surrounding their death.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the role of the forensic anthropologist from crime scene to court, alongside the theories and practical skills that underpin this work.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

  • 1. Demonstrate competence in human and non-human osteology.
  • 2. Demonstrate understanding of the techniques and methods used to identify decedents.
  • 3. Demonstrate understanding of the key theories and methods used in forensic anthropology.
  • 4. Demonstrate understanding of the key concepts of forensic taphonomy.
  • 5. Use terms and conventions commonly employed in forensic anthropology.
  • 6. Demonstrate awareness of the role of the forensic anthropologist in domestic and international forensic investigations.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

  • 7. Show initiative in interpreting a variety of information forms.
  • 8. 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...

  • 9. Demonstrate competence in summarising published research.
  • 10. Acquire a range of observational and analytical skills which are applicable in the wider world especially in the context of professional work.
  • 11. Demonstrate a competent knowledge base under examination conditions.

Syllabus plan

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

 

  • The origin and development of forensic anthropology
  • The role of the forensic anthropologist in domestic, international and mass disaster investigations
  • Ethical considerations and practice
  • Legislative frameworks and admissibility regulations
  • Collaboration and contribution of other scene personnel and forensic experts
  • Human skeletal anatomy
  • Non-human skeletal identification  
  • Forensic taphonomy
  • Biological profiling
  • Trauma assessment
  • Identifying decedents
  • Health and safety 

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
302700

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching30Lecture content and discussion along with guided practical content
Private Study 270Private study

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
70030

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Skills Test301 hour (or equivalent)1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 & 11Mark and written comments
Scientific Poster201,250 words1-10Mark and written comments
Forensic Report503,250 words1-10Mark and written comments

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

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Skills TestSkills test 1 hour (or equivalent) (30%)1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 & 11Referred/deferred period
Scientific PosterScientific Poster 1,250 words (20%)1-10Referred/deferred period
Forensic ReportForensic Report 3,250 words (50%)1-10Referred/deferred period

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. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
 

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Reading materials:

  • Anderson, C.P and Martin, D.L., 2018: Massacres: Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology Approaches. University of Florida Press, Florida.
  • Baker, B. J., 2005: The Osteology of Infants and Children. Texas A&M University Press, College Station Texas.
  • Barnes, E., 2012: Atlas of Developmental Field Anomalies of the Human Skeleton: A Paleopathology Perspective. Wiley-Blackwell, Newark.
  • Bass, W.M., 2005: Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual. Missouri Archaeological Society, Columbia.
  • Black, S. and Ferguson, E., 2011: Forensic Anthropology: 2000 to 2010. CRC Press, London.
  • Black, S., Rutty, G., Hainsworth, S, V. and Thomson, G., 2017: Criminal Dismemberment: Forensic and Investigative Analysis. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
  • Blau, S., Ranson, D. and O’Donnell, C., 2017: An Atlas of Skeletal Trauma in Medico-Legal Contexts. Elsevier Science and Technology, San Diego.
  • Blau, S. and Ubelaker, D.H., 2009: Handbook of Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek.
  • Boyd, C.C. and Boyd, D., 2018: Forensic Anthropology: Theoretical Framework and Scientific Basis. Wiley, Hoboken.
  • Brickley, M., 2007: Forensic Anthropology: Case Studies from Europe. Charles C Thomas, Springfield Illinois.
  • Buikstra, J.E., 2019: Ortner’s Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains. Third Edition. Elsevier Science & Technology, San Diego.
  • Burns, K.R., 2016. Forensic Anthropology Training Manual. Third Edition. Routledge, London.
  • Christensen, A.M., Passalacqua, N.V. and Bartelink, E.J., 2013: Forensic Anthropology: Current Methods and Practice. Elsevier Science and Technology, San Diego.
  • Cunningham, C., Scheuer, L. and Black, S., 2016: Developmental Juvenile Osteology. Second Edition. Academic Press, Amsterdam.
  • Garvin, H.M. and Langley, N.R., 2020: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology: Bonified Skeletons. CRC Press, Milton.
  • Grauer, A., 2023: The Routledge Handbook of Paleopathology. Routledge, Milton.
  • Hinton, A.L., 2022. Anthropological Witness: Lessons from the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. Cornell University Press, Ithaca.
  • Langley, N.R. and Tersigni-Tarrant, M.T.A., 2017: Forensic Anthropology: A Comprehensive Introduction. Second Edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
  • Lewis, M., 2006: The Bioarchaeology of Children: Perspectives from Biological and Forensic Anthropology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
  • Lewis, M., 2017: Paleopathology of Children: Identification of Pathological Conditions in the Human Skeletal Remains of Non-Adult. Elsevier Science and Technology, San Diego.
  • Manhein, M.H., 2013: Bone Remains: Cold Cases in Forensic Anthropology. LSU Press, Baton Rouge
  • Ross, A.H. and Cunha, E., 2018: Dismemberments: Perspectives in Forensic Anthropology and Legal Medicine. Elsevier Science and Technology, Saint Louis.
  • Richards, M.P. and Britton, K., 2020: Archaeological Science: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
  • Schmitt, A., Cunha, E. and Pinheiro, J., 2006: Forensic Anthropology and Medicine: Complementary Sciences from Recovery to Cause of Death. Humana Press, Totowa.
  • Schmitt, C.W. and Symes, S.A., 2015: The Analysis of Burned Remains. Elsevier Science, San Diego.
  • Schotsmans, E.M.J., Márquez-Grant, N. and Forbes, S.L., 2017: Taphonomy of Human Remains: Forensic Analysis of the dead and the depositional environment. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester.
  • Squires, K., Errickson, D. and Márquez-Grant, N., 2020: Ethical Approaches to Human Remains: A Global Challenge in Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology. Springer International Publishing, New York.
  • Steadman, D.W., 2008: Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology. Second Edition. Routledge, London.
  • Symes, S., Pokines, J.T. and L’Abbé, E.N., 2022: Manual of Forensic Taphonomy. Second Edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
  • Tersigni-Tarrant, M.T.A. and Shirley, N.R., 2013: Forensic Anthropology: An Introduction. CRC Press, Boca Raton.
  • Waldron, T., 2008: Palaeopathology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
  • White, T.D. and Folkens, P.A., 2005: The Human Bone Manual. Academic Press, Amsterdam.

 

Journals:

  • American Journal of Biological Anthropology
  • Forensic Science International
  • International Journal of Legal Medicine
  • Journal of Forensic Sciences
  • Science and Justice 

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE2

Key words search

Archaeology, Anthropology, Forensic Science, Osteology 

Credit value30
Module ECTS

15

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

7

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

08/05/2025