Forensic Anthropology

Recommended Prerequisites

Human osteology.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes with powerpoint presentations and human bones.

A 4 hours practical class where the students can practice with identified skeletal collections.

A 3 hours class with presentation and discussion of practical and real cases of forensic anthropology.

The evaluation is an exam which includes multiple choice as well other type of questions.

Learning Outcomes

To know the aims  of forensic anthropology

To recognize a human bone

To know how to evaluate the biological profile on the basis of skeletal remains

To know how to discriminate among  postmortem, antemortem and perimortem fractures.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Medico Legal identification in the living and in the cadaver
Introduction to forensic anthropology. Forensic anthropology within medico-legal expertises. Forensic anthropology in the 21 st century
Excavation of human remains. Taphonomic analysis
Evaluation of time since death.
Biological identity I: sex diagnosis of adult skeletons; ancestry
Biological identity II: age at death ( sub adults and adults)
Identity factors: frontal sinus; unique medical features; discrete traits
Cause and manner of death: identification of traumatic lesions; discrimination among peri,p+ost and antemortem fractures.
Cremains analysis. An approach.
The anthropological report.
Forensic anthropology within crimes against humanity
Forensic entomology.
Species identification.
Biological identity II: stature
Forensic odontology.
Practical cases.
Forensic anthropology and mass disasters.
Discussion of forensic anthropology cases.

Head Lecturer(s)

Eugénia Maria Guedes Pinto Antunes da Cunha

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Dirkmaat 2012. A companion to forensic anthropology. Wiley Blackwell

Schmitt, Cunha, Pinheiro 2006 Forensic anthropology and Medicine. Humana Press.

Byers 2011. Introduction to Forensic Anthropology. Prentice Hall.

Steadman 2009 Hard evidence: Case studies in forensic anthropology. Prentice Hall.

Blau, Ubelaker 2008. Handbook of forensic anthropology and archaeology. Left Coast Press.

Brickley, Ferlinni 2007 Forensic anthropology: Case studies from Europe. Thomas.

Siegel, Saukko, Knupfer 2000 Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences. Academic Press. Vol. 1.

Scheuer, Black 2000 Developmental juvenile osteology. Academic Press.

Kimmerle, Baraybar 2008 Skeletal trauma: identification of injuries resulting from Human Rights and armed conflict. CRC Press.

Burns 1999 The Forensic Anthropology Training Manual. Prentice-Hall.

Ortner 2003 Identification of pathological conditions in human skeletal remains. Academic Press.

White, Black, Folkens 2012 Human Osteology. Elsevier Academic Press.