Welcome to the ANTH 383 site.

This course is an introduction to the field of forensic anthropology.
It outlines the areas in which forensic anthropologists may contribute to a death investigation and introduces basic concepts relating to the recovery and analysis of human remains in a medicolegal context. Forensic anthropologists work closely with local police officials, coroners, pathologists, lawyers, and other forensic specialists to personally identify unknown human remains in order to bring resolution to a case, often associated with a homicide.

Course topics include: methods of crime scene investigation, processing outdoor scenes, proper documentation and photography for court presentation, estimating time since death, causes of death including trauma related incidence, ethical treatment of human remains, mass disasters, and role of the forensic anthropologist as an expert witness.

The major objective of this course is to introduce students to the range of theoretical and methodological techniques within forensic anthropology and to develop problem solving, research, communication, and presentation skills through a series of lab exercises and a term research project.

An online version of this course will be offered in Summer 2023.

Contact

Dr. Stephanie Calce
Senior Lab Instructor & Adjunct Professor
Department of Anthropology
University of Victoria
Email: scalce[at]uvic.ca

Follow me on twitter: @count_scapula