Workshop Offerings for 2013:

• Field Methods: May 28-31, 2013 - COURSE FULL
• Outdoor Recovery Course: June 3-7, 2013 - COURSE FULL
• Outdoor Recovery Course: June 10-14, 2013 - COURSE FULL
• Human Identification: June 17-21, 2013 - COURSE FULL
• Forensic Taphonomy: June 24-28, 2013 - COURSE FULL

2013 Course Registration is now open!

Note: Credit cards are not accepted for course payment. Please use checks or money orders. Participants must be 18 years old or older to register and attend any course.

Forensic Anthropology Field Methods: May 28-31, 2013 (COURSE FULL)

This is an intensive course designed to enhance one's knowledge in forensic recovery techniques. Various mapping techniques and equipment will be discussed and applied to an outdoor context. Participants will be responsible for the recovery of scattered and buried human remains at the Anthropological Research Facility. This course is best suited for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in physical and forensic anthropology that have experience with osteology.

Outdoor Recovery Course A: June 3-7, 2013 (COURSE FULL) and
Outdoor Recovery Course B: June 10-14, 2013 (COURSE FULL)

This course is designed for medico-legal personnel that are actively involved in the recovery of human remains. Participants will be introduced to the role of the forensic anthropologist in a forensic investigation and how they can assist in the recovery of remains in an outdoor context. Topics covered include the basics of time since death determination and an introduction to new techniques available to law enforcement, the basics of insect collection and the use of entomological data, and forensic odontology. The archaeological approach to surface and burial recovery and the use of current technology available to aid in the recovery of human remains at the Anthropological Research Facility will be emphasized. (Note: The Outdoor Recovery course is POST certified for 24 CEU credits. ABMDI certification is pending.)

Pre-requisites: Participants must be gainfully employed in the medico-legal community. Medical Examiners, death investigators, law enforcement or other related fields will be considered.

Introduction to Human Identification: June 17-21, 2013 (COURSE FULL)

This is a laboratory methods course designed to provide an overview of the methods used to analyze human remains. Participants will review human versus non-human osteology, examine age, sex, stature, and ancestry estimation using the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection, and ways in which to establish a positive identification. Quantitative methods in forensic anthropology and data collection techniques will also be discussed. Participants will apply learned material to selected cases and present these to the class.

Pre-requisites: Participants should have some knowledge of Anthropology and/or Anatomy, or have previous forensic skills or educational-related background.

Forensic Taphonomy: June 24-28, 2013 (COURSE FULL)

This is a laboratory and field methods class in which participants will learn the various taphonomic influences that would affect the recovery and identification of human remains. Participants will be provided with an overview of the biological profile and the role of taphonomy in this process. Topics covered include human decomposition and postmortem interval estimation techniques, forensic entomology, and natural taphonomic effects on bone (e.g. post-mortem scavenging and bone weathering). An introduction to mapping and recovery in relation to these processes will also be discussed. Participants will be required to recover the remains from an outdoor context and be able to interpret how taphonomic processes influence bone. (Note: The Forensic Taphonomy course is POST certified for 40 CEU credits. ABMDI certification is pending.)

Pre-requisites: Participants must have a background in field and/or scene recovery methods, osteology and anthropology, or have taken a previous FAC course.

For more information please contact Dr. Dawnie Steadman.

Contact Information

Forensic Anthropology Center
Department of Anthropology

250 South Stadium Hall
Knoxville, TN USA
37996-0760

Phone: 865-974-4408

Fax: 865-974-2686

Email: fac@utk.edu