ANTH 176: INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY 4 credit hours INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Felicia Madimenos (fmadimen@uoregon.edu) Welcome to Introduction to Forensic Anthropology! This course teaches the basic analysis of human remains for the medico- legal profession, and will cover the history of the discipline, the human skeleton, determining postmortem interval, trauma evaluation, and individual identification. It will also cover the investigation of crime scenes, the role of the forensic anthropologist, and case studies from a number of various situations. REQUIRED MATERIALS: The two required texts for this course are available at the UO Bookstore & on various online book vendors: Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, 4th edition, by S. Byers The Human Bone Manual by T. White and P. A. Folkens. I will supplement additional article readings by posting them to Blackboard. OPTIONAL TEXTS: Human Osteology by T. White Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual of the Human Skeleton by W. Bass NOTE: There will be no extra credit and I only accept late work in the most extreme of circumstances. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course teaches the basic analysis of human remains for the medico- legal profession, and will cover the history of the discipline, the human skeleton, determining postmortem interval, trauma evaluation, and individual identification. It will also cover the investigation of crime scenes, the role of the forensic anthropologist, and case studies from a number of various situations. COURSE OUTCOMES: 1
1. Comprehension of basic anatomical terminology, specifically the names, features, location, architecture and general characteristics of the bones of the human skeleton. 2. An appreciation for the various disciplines associated with forensic anthropology including archaeology, anatomy and physiology, biology, criminal law, entomology, and geology among others. 3. An understanding of crime scene methods, means of analysis, and age, gender, and ancestry skeletal identification. 4. A basic grasp on the effect on bones of cultural and environmental factors. 5. Ability to comprehend the role of forensic anthropology in the medico- legal community. Your grade in the course will reflect your performance on a blackboard- based midterm and final exam, weekly lab assignments, and weekly quizzes. Weekly quizzes are based on the lab component of the course and will focus on anatomical terminology, bone identification (e.g., features, landmarks), human vs. non- human bone determination, and sex, age, ancestry, and stature estimation. Quizzes are cumulative. Midterm Exam Final Exam Weekly Lab Assignments Weekly Quizzes 25% 25% 20% (9 total/no assignment due Midterm Week [Week 5]) 30% (9 total/no quiz during Midterm Week [Week 5]) Grades will be assigned as follows: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-69%, D = 60-69%, F < 60% (with minus and plus grades assigned at appropriate cutoffs). The grading system used in this course is as follows: A Outstanding performance relative to that required to meet course requirements; demonstrates a mastery of course content at the highest level. B Performance that is significantly above that required to meet course requirements; demonstrates a mastery of course content at a high level. C Performance that meets the course requirements in every respect; demonstrates an adequate understanding of course content. D Performance that is at the minimal level necessary to pass the course but does not fully meet the course requirements; demonstrates a marginal understanding of course content. F Performance in the course, for whatever reason, is unacceptable and does not meet the course requirements; demonstrates an inadequate understanding of the course content. Schedule (Be advised that the following schedule is subject to change) 2
Wee k 1 2 3 4 5 Topics Introduction to Course, What do Forensic Anthropologists Do?, Historical Background Lab: Anatomical Terminology Basic Bone Biology Lab: The Human Cranium & Dentition Establishing the Forensics Context; Recovery Scene Methods Lab: The Human Post- crania Forensic Taphonomy; Post- Mortem Interval Lab: Human versus Non- Human Remains Film: Forensic Anthropology at the Body Farm** **(A question worksheet will be available with this film to answer but will not be graded. However, there will be questions on the midterm based on this film.) Midterm Exam Reading Assignment Chapter 1 (Byers) Chapter 1 (White & Folkens) Chapter 1 (Steadman) [pdf] For lab, use this additional resource: Chapter 6 (White & Folkens) Chapters 2 (Byers) Chapter 4 (White & Folkens) Chapters 7 & 8 (White & Folkens) Chapters 3 & 4 (Byers) Chapter 2 (White & Folkens) Chapter 2 (Rhine) [pdf] Chapters 9-16 (White & Folkens) Chapters 5 & 6 (Byers) Chapter 5 (White & Folkens) Chapter 12 (Love & Marks) [pdf] Chapter 3 (Byers); Chapters 9-16 (White & Folkens) No assigned readings, assignments, or quiz this week. Study for the midterm! 6 Estimation of Age at Death in Adults and Subadults Lab: Determining Age at Death Chapter 9 (Byers) Chapter 4 (Rhine) [pdf] 3
7 Attribution of Sex in Adults and Subadults ; Estimation of Ancestry Lab: Determining Sex and Ancestry of the Decedent Chapter 19 (White & Folkens); Week 6 Chapter 7 & 8 (Byers) Sauer (1992) [pdf] Chapter 19 (White & Folkens); Week 7 8 9 10 Calculation of Stature; Antemortem and Postmortem Changes to Bone; Pathology Lab: Stature & Distinguishing Antemortem from Postmortem Changes Trauma: Projectile and Blunt; Sharp and Miscellaneous Lab: Identifying Trauma from Skeletal Remains Individual Identification; Facial approximation; Court Testimony; Human Rights Lab: A Case Study Putting the Pieces Together Chapters 10, 15, 16 (Byers) Chapter 17 (White & Folkens) Chapters 5 & 19 (White & Folkens); Week 8 Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14 (Byers) Chapter 10 (Smith et al.,) [pdf] Chapters 5 & 19 (White & Folkens); Week 9 Chapters 17 & 19 (Byers) Prag and Neave (1997) [pdf] Resources posted to Blackboard For lab, use all the resources available to you during the past 9 weeks as applicable 11 Final Exam Sources of Additional Readings Listed Above: Love J and Marks MK. 2003. Taphonomy and Time. In Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic 4
Anthropology. DW Steadman (Ed). Prentice Hall: New Jersey. Prag J and Neave R. 1997. Making Faces Using Forensic and Archaeological Evidence. Texas A&M University Press. Rhine, S. 1998, Bone Voyage: A Journey in Forensic Anthropology. University of New Mexico Press: Albuquerque. Smith OC, Pope EJ, and Symes SA. 2003. Look Until You See. In Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology. DW Steadman (Ed). Prentice Hall: New Jersey. Steadman, DW. 2003. Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology. Prentice Hall: New Jersey. 5