Forensic Anthropology

Recommended Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of human osteology.

Teaching Methods

Lectures with powerpoint presentations and real bones used for better visualization of morphological characteristics in question.

Theoretical-practical class 4 hours with skeletons identified where students can apply the acquired concepts.

A class of three hours with presentation and discussion of practical and truthful cases of forensic anthropology.

Learning Outcomes

Dominate the objectives of forensic anthropologyand their areas of intervention.

Identify a human bone.

Know how to make an assessment of the biological profile through the skeleton.

Learn to discriminate between fractures ante, peri and post-mortem.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

The main goals of a forensic anthropology.

Biological Identity I: Sexual diagnosis of adult skeletons.

Biological identity II: age at death in adults and not adult skeleton.

Biological identity III: ancestry and stature.

Individualization factors.

The role of the forensic anthropologist.

Identification of traumatic injuries on the skeleton.

Introduction to cadaverous decomposition.

Evaluation of post-mortem interval.

Field of anthropology and forensic taphonomy.

Biomechanics of lesions. Traumatic injuries.

Forensic Anthropology in cases of crimes against humanity and human rights violations.

Forensic Anthropology in mass disaster.

Introduction to anthropological analysis of charred remains.

Anthropological report.

Presentation of case studies in the context of forensic anthropology.

Theoretical-practical session of trauma in the Forensic Lab DCV.

Visit the collection of skeletons identified in the Anthropological Museum of University of Coimbra. Discussion of relevant cases.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Blau, Ubelaker 2008. Handbook of forensic anthropology and archaeology. Left Coast Press.
Brickley, Ferlinni 2007 Forensic anthropology: Case studies from Europe. Thomas.
Burns 1999 The Forensic Anthropology Training Manual. Prentice-Hall.
Byers 2011. Introduction to Forensic Anthropology. Prentice Hall.
Dirkmaat 2012. A companion to forensic anthropology. Wiley Blackwell
Kimmerle, Baraybar 2008 Skeletal trauma: identification of injuries resulting from Human Rights and armed conflict. CRC Press.
Ortner 2003 Identification of pathological conditions in human skeletal remains. Academic Press.
Scheuer, Black 2000 Developmental juvenile osteology. Academic Press.
Schmitt, Cunha, Pinheiro 2006 Forensic anthropology and Medicine. Humana Press.
Siegel, Saukko, Knupfer 2000 Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences. Academic Press. Vol. 1.
Steadman 2009 Hard evidence: Case studies in forensic anthropology. Prentice Hall.
White, Black, Folkens 2012 Human Osteology. Elsevier Academic Press.