This course offers students a broad introduction to the fields of Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology. Students will be trained in recovering forensic evidence using archaeological methods, both practically (as part of field training) and theoretically. The basics of human biological profile reconstruction will also be taught in a lab setting. We will cover a variety of topics that pertain to crime scene investigation, including how to identify and analyse skeletonised human remains. This course focuses solely on medico-legal contexts of human remains, with examples from domestic and international cases. Student will gain a set of skills necessary, and appropriate in terms of the requirements of the Australian medico-legal professions, for the practical management and excavation of a body/crime scene.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- reconstruct a basic biological profile from a set of human skeletal remains;
- recover forensic evidence using archaeological methods as part of a mock excavation in the field;
- analyse and report forensic evidence in a written format;
- describe, explain, and critically evaluate methods used in Forensic Anthropology; and
- discuss and construct an academic argument around an issue/ issues in Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology case(s), including in your argument suggestions for improving current methods and standards in Forensic Anthropology/ Archaeology.
Work Integrated Learning
Fieldwork
Students complete a mock crime scene excavation and then do an assessment using the data they have collected in the field. These activities provide key practical and analytical skills needed for a career in forensics/archaeology/bioarchaeology.
Indicative Assessment
- Mock Conference Poster (500 words) (25) [LO 4,5]
- 10 Minute Poster Presentation (10) [LO 4,5]
- 5 x Lab Book Entries (One entry a week for five weeks; 200 words per week) (25) [LO 2,3]
- Crime Scene Investigation Report (3500 words) (40) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 37 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 22 hours of lectures, 11 hours of laboratories, and 4 hours of field training*; and
b) 93 hours of independent student research, reading, and writing.
*Please note that participation in the field training (mock excavation) is mandatory. The times and dates of the excavation will be confirmed at the beginning of semester, but it is likely that the excavation will be repeated each morning and afternoon from Monday to Wednesday in Week 6. Each student participates in the excavation for one half-day only (8am-12 noon or 1-5pm). The allocation of students to a particular excavation session is undertaken at the start of the course to account for each student's other Week 6 commitments as far as possible.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Students are required to have their own copy of the following text book: White TD, and Folkens PA. 2005. The Human Bone Manual. Boston: Academic Press. This book is invaluable for helping with learning skeletal anatomy and for aiding bone identification in field and lab settings. A detailed list of course readings will be uploaded to Wattle prior to the start of semester.
Preliminary Reading
White, TD, Black, MT, Folkens, PA. 2012. Human osteology. Amsterdam: Academic Press.
Bass, WM. 2005. Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual. Columbia, Missouri: Missouri Archaeological Society.
Scheuer L, Black S, and Christie A. 2000. Developmental Juvenile Osteology. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Hillson S. 1996. Dental Anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Assumed Knowledge
Prior knowledge of the human skeleton and biological profiling (e.g., age and sex estimation from the skeleton) is advantageous for this course. Students wishing to develop this knowledge are encouraged to take BIAN6517 Human Skeletal Analysis, prior to enrolling.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $3960 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $5820 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7205 | 24 Jul 2023 | 31 Jul 2023 | 31 Aug 2023 | 27 Oct 2023 | In Person | View |