All individuals received as body donations received by the Department of Anthropology are first placed at the  Anthropology Research Facility (commonly known as the Body Farm), and then accessioned into the UTK Donated Skeletal Collection. These donations facilitate research and training in forensic sciences, anthropology, and other related fields. 

Below, information about the donor program is provided, including links to documents for potential donors to complete and return.  See our FAQs about Body Donation. 

Please direct all questions and correspondence to: 

Mary Davis 
Assistant Director of the Forensic Anthropology Center 
Department of Anthropology 
1621 Cumberland Avenue, room 505 
Knoxville, TN 37996-1525 
Phone: (865) 974-4408 
E-mail: donateinfo@utk.edu 

• Please Read the FAQs and Forensic Anthropology Donation Program Policy to determine if this program fulfills your wishes. 
• We do not accept donations in cases where: 
  • The individual has any kind of infection at the time of their death. 
  • The individual has contracted a communicable disease such as: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis (A, B, or C), tuberculosis (TB), or antibiotic resistant bacterial infections such as MRSA. In addition, we do not accept donations in cases where the individual has contracted HIV and received a diagnosis of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) during their lifetime. 
    • We will accept a donation if an individual successfully completes treatment for Hepatitis C and provides titer results documenting their negative status. 
  • Our facility is at capacity. Our needs for body donations vary year-to-year depending on our research and training needs. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to accept every interested individual. 

If you wish to donate your body: 

1. You can download the complete Body Donation Packet online, or if you would prefer to have the packet mailed to you, please fill out a Body Donation Packet mail request form (English). También ofrecemos el formulario de solicitud de correo en español.
2. In the packet, you will need to: 
   • Complete and return the Body Donation Document. The document requires two additional signatures. We suggest multiple copies of the Body Donation Document be made and maintained by the donor’s next-of-kin, attorney, or physician. We also recommend that you seek the advice of a private attorney to ensure that the document accomplishes your intent and is consistent with any existing testamentary documents. 
   • Complete and return the Consent to Research Forms. These documents allow you to express your preference for inclusion in different types of research the FAC may conduct. 
   • Complete and return the Biological Questionnaire. It is very helpful to have documentation of known medical conditions, if possible, to facilitate our research. All information is considered confidential. 
   • Send a photograph of yourself (via mail or email) to keep in our records. A frontal view of the face is preferred (similar to a passport or driver’s license photo), but any photograph is acceptable. This photograph enables us to include you in research involving facial reconstruction and photographic superimposition as a means for identifying unknown. 
3. Once we receive your completed Body Donation Packet, we will mail you a Donor Card and registration letter to keep in your records and assist you in making your wishes known. Please allow eight weeks for processing of your paperwork and mailing of your Donor Card.