ANTHROPOLOGY-A 460: Forensic Anthropology
SPRING 2013
Mondays & Wednesdays 4:30 to 5:45 PM
435 (class) & 409 (lab) Cavanaugh Hall
Professor: Jeremy J. Wilson, Ph.D.
Office: 413C Cavanaugh Hall
Office Hours: Mondays- 10:30 to 11:30 am, Tuesdays- 2:00 to 4:00
pm, Wednesdays- 3:00 to 4:00 pm, and by appointment
Email: wilsojer@iupui.edu
Phone: 317-274-5787
Website: http://www.iupui.edu/~anthjjw/Home.htm
Course Description, Objectives & Organization
Forensic Anthropology introduces students to the aforementioned sub-discipline of Biological
Anthropology that addresses human skeletal remains recovered during medico-legal
investigations. Forensic Anthropology is an inherently “applied” sub-discipline of Anthropology
and compliments the foci of IUPUI’s Department of Anthropology. Forensic anthropologists are
often utilized in investigations when a visual identification of human remains cannot be made.
The goals of forensic anthropologists’ involvement in medico-legal investigations routinely
include excavation and recovery (i.e., forensic archaeology), the construction of a biological
profile and positive identification, and the mode and manner of death.
Forensic Anthropology is a lecture and laboratory-based course that introduces students to the
study of the human skeleton through direct exposure to said remains. This examination
extends from the practical matters of differentiating bones or bone fragments (and whether or
not they are human), to interpreting types and patterns of trauma, to broader theoretical
considerations of the sources and range of variation within and between populations, which are
proving to be essential in forensic investigations outside of the United States (e.g., human rights
exhumations). Contrary to the sub-discipline of Bioarchaeology, the focus of Forensic
Anthropology is more often than not on a single individual. The methods of the two subdisciplines are often complimentary, but “positive identification” of an unknown individual’s
remains is the goal of most forensic investigations. However, the role of the forensic
anthropologist is ever-changing, especially in light of advancements in DNA extraction and
analysis.
Students can expect to be trained to 1) identify bones and bone fragments, 2) assess biological
profiles (i.e., sex, age-at-death, stature, ancestry) of unknown remains, 3) collect, analyze, and
interpret metric and non-metric data, 4) understand pathological processes routinely
encountered during the analysis of human skeletal remains, 5) identify and interpret skeletal
trauma, 6) learn the basics of field recovery, and 7) gain an appreciation for the history, current
state, and future prospects of the sub-discipline. Assignments and in-class exercises will help
hone many of these skills. Students should expect and plan to commit additional hours in the
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lab outside of regular class meeting times. Like other fields of scientific inquiry, the research
and analyses performed during class will teach the students to formulate and test hypotheses,
and subsequently justify their conclusions.
Class meetings will provide time for lectures, discussions, hands-on learning and exercises with
skeletal material. Following the first two weeks of class, approximately half of each class time
will be devoted to sharpening your practical skills, conducting in-class exercises, and preparing
for the quizzes and practical components of the midterm and final examinations. Prearranged
lab hours (see below) will give students additional opportunities to work on their skill set and
assignments.
Attendance
There is no doubt that the textbook contains a vast wealth of information. However, it is no
substitute for your attendance and participation in a lab-based course like Forensic
Anthropology. Attendance is mandatory. You will receive 10 attendance points if you have no
more than three unexcused absences. After that you will lose one participation point for each
absence. For example, if you have three unexcused absences you will receive all 10 points, but
if you have four absences you will receive nine points, five absences receive eight points, and so
on. Excused absences are documented illnesses, religious holidays, or an absence that is
discussed with me prior to or immediately after the absence. Please be prepared to document
absences that will be excused.
Students who attend less than half a class session will not receive attendance points without
my permission. I will consider excusing absences for other reasons (e.g., K-12 school breaks,
etc.) on a case-by-case basis, so please contact me about such absences as soon as possible.
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting on a course roster that
circulates through class. If you come in late, you must ensure that you sign this roster at the
end of class; at the end of the
semester I will not negotiate over the
days you forgot to sign the
attendance roster. I will not allow
students to sign the roster if they
arrive halfway through the class
meeting; please discuss any delays
outside your control with me (e.g.,
caught in traffic jam, but not an
errant alarm clock). The exams will
also be heavily weighted towards the
material discussed in depth during
class, so it behooves you to attend.
A basic requirement of this course is that you will participate in class and conscientiously
complete the readings, in-class exercises, and lab assignments. If you miss more than half our
class meetings within the first four weeks of the semester without contacting me, you will be
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administratively withdrawn from the class. Administrative withdrawal may have academic and
financial aid implications. Administrative withdrawal will take place after the full refund period,
and if you are administratively withdrawn from the course, you will not be eligible for a tuition
refund. If you have questions about the administrative withdrawal policy at any point during
the semester, please contact me.
Required Texts
Byers, Steven N.
2011 Introduction to Forensic Anthropology (4th Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Steadman, Dawnie W.
2009 Hard Evidence: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology (2nd Edition). Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Prentice Hall.
Course Grading
The grading for the course is based on a series of six inclass lab exercises (30% total), two lab assignments (20%
total), two bone quizzes (10% total), a midterm and final
examination (30% total), a group Daubert report and
presentation on forensic anthropology methods (5%), and
attendance (5%). The Midterm (March 6th) and Final (May
1st) will be conducted during designated class times. Both
tests will include objective and essay components. The
final will be cumulative, but it will primarily focus on the
materials from the second half of the semester. The
details and group assignments for the Daubert report and
presentation will be expanded upon in the coming weeks.
You can check your grades during the semester by logging onto Oncourse.
Course Grading Scale
A
92-100
B+
A89-91
B
B-
86-88
82-85
79-81
C+
C
76-78
70-75
D
F
60-69
0-60
Open Lab Time
In addition to the scheduled class time, you are encouraged to spend a minimum of one to two
additional hours in the lab each week. This is especially true in advance of quizzes, the exams,
and the due dates for your take-home assignments. The open lab schedule is listed below.
Please clear all visitors to the lab with me prior to their entry. The lab is not a social gathering
site.
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Open Lab Schedule for Spring 2013
Mondays
2:00 to 4:30 pm
Tuesdays
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Wednesdays
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Thursdays
by arrangement
Fridays
by arrangement
Professional Conduct
Most of the skeletal materials that you will handle in the lab are not casts- they are human
remains. You must demonstrate the utmost respect for these remains at all times in both your
words and actions. Inappropriate behavior and/or comments will not be tolerated. You will be
asked to leave the lab immediately and required to meet with me prior to your re-admittance
to the class.
Careful handling is also mandatory. Always carry bones with two hands and use the table
padding and/or bean bags whenever you place material on a table. Please do not put pens or
pencils near the bones or draw on them. Water bottles are permissible in the lab and around
the human remains, but I strongly discourage eating or drinking in the immediate vicinity of any
bones. Skeletal remains are never to leave the lab or classroom. Students who abuse, steal, or
intentionally damage the remains will be expelled from the class.
Policies
For better or worse, life happens! As a result, I try to be as
accommodating as possible. However, you need to keep me
informed. Please feel free to discuss any problems you are
having in class, whether they are related to illnesses, work
schedules, problems with your car, or the wide range of reallife things that can happen over a semester. I will do my very
best to help in whatever way I can. If you have questions or
concerns, I can always be contacted before or after class. You
can also schedule an appointment. Outside of class time, the
most reliable means to contact me is electronically. I check my
email virtually every day. On that note, please contact me via
email (wilsojer@iupui.edu) and not Oncourse, which I check
less frequently and can be somewhat unpredictable.
The classroom is a safe-speech environment. It is your responsibility to treat other classmates
fairly and with mutual respect, even if they have the audacity to disagree with you, champion
an opinion that is inconsistent with your worldview, or simply bore you. Anyone who talks
when someone else is talking, is hostile, or otherwise violates classroom etiquette (e.g., does
other homework, reads the newspaper) will be considered to be in violation of this policy.
Students who fail to adhere to these guidelines will be asked to meet with me before returning
to class.
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This syllabus includes deadlines for assignments, exercises, quizzes, and test dates. Therefore, it
is your responsibility to know when assignments are due, exercises are held, and quizzes and
tests are scheduled. If there are any changes made in the syllabus, they will be posted on
Oncourse and announced in class. Please do not wait until after an assignment deadline or
exam date to talk to me. Likewise, do not postpone talking to me if you are having any difficulty
with the class. Make-up tests will be essay tests.
All work in the course is conducted in accordance with the University’s academic misconduct
policy. Cheating includes dishonesty of any kind with respect to exams or assignments.
Plagiarism is the offering of someone else’s work as your own: this includes taking un-cited
material from books, web pages, or other students, turning in the same or substantially similar
work as other students, sneaking a
peek at the neighbor's exam, or
failing to properly cite other
research. If you are suspected of
any form of academic misconduct
you will be called in for a meeting
at which point you will be informed of the accusation and given adequate opportunity to
respond. A report will be submitted to the Dean of Students, who will decide on further
disciplinary action. Please consult the University Bulletin’s academic misconduct policy or me if
you have any questions.
The Office of Adaptive Educational Services (AES) ensures that students with disabilities receive
appropriate accommodations from the University and their professors. Students must register
with the AES office in order to receive such services.
Portable electronic devices, namely cell phones, should be turned off before entering the
classroom. You can use a laptop in class to take notes, but please turn off the speakers. Do not
surf the web in class. Let me know in advance if you carry around a communication device for
familial reasons (e.g., pregnancy monitoring, disabled family, or contact with kids). Anyone
whose electronic device disturbs class repeatedly will be asked to meet with me after class if
they continue to disturb the group.
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Course Schedule
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Topic(s)
Readings & Exercises
January 7th
No Class: Dr. Wilson @ National
Science Foundation
N/A
January 9th
Introductions & Course Preview
Steadman, pp. 1-7; Chapter 1
A History of Forensic Anthropology Byers, pp. 1-8
January 14th
Forensic Anthropology in the 21st
Century: Science & Jurisprudence
Byers, pp. 8-11;
Steadman, Chapters 6 &7
January 16th
Reference Samples &
Quantitative Methods
Byers, pp. 11-26
January 21st
No Class: MLK Jr. Holiday
N/A
January 23rd
Human Osteology I:
Cranium & Dentition
Byers, Chapter 2
January 28th
Human Osteology II:
Axial & Appendicular Skeleton
Byers, Chapter 2
In-class Exercise #1
January 30th
Forensic Context I:
Human vs. Nonhuman
Byers, pp. 52-64
February 4th
Forensic Context II:
Antiquity of Remains
Byers, pp. 64-74;
Steadman, Chapter 21
Quiz #1
February 6th
Initial Processing
Byers, Chapter 6
February 11th Inventory & Commingling
Steadman, Chapters 9 & 22
February 13th Estimation of Sex I:
Non-metric analyses
Byers, Chapter 8
February 18th Estimation of Sex II:
Metric analyses
Byers, Chapter 8
In-class Exercise #2
February 20th Adult Age Estimation I:
The Pelvis
Byers, pp. 190-200
Quiz #2
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Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
February 25th Adult Age Estimation II:
Cranium & Post-cranium
Byers, pp. 200-212
In-class Exercise #3
February 27th Sub-adult Age Estimation I:
Dental Development & Eruption
Byers, pp. 174-190
March 4th
Sub-adult Age Estimation II:
Long bone length & epiphyseal fusion
March 6th
Midterm Examination
March 11th
Spring Break: No Classes
March 13th
Spring Break: No Classes
March 18nd
Stature Estimation
Byers, Chapter 1
In-class Exercise #4
March 20th
Ancestry Estimation
Byers, Chapter 7
Steadman, Chapters 8 & 14
Assignment #1 Due
March 25th
Antemortem Skeletal Conditions
Byers, Chapter 15
March 27st
Death & Skeletal Trauma
Byers, Chapter 11
Steadman, Chapter 15
April 1st
Gunshot Trauma
Byers, Chapter 12
April 3rd
Blunt-Force Trauma
Byers, Chapter 13
Steadman, Chapter 17
In-class Exercise #5
April 8th
Sharp-Force Trauma &
Post-mortem Alterations
Byers, Chapters 14 & 16
Steadman, Chapter 12
April 10th
No Class: AAPA Meetings
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N/A
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
April 15th
Individualization &
Positive Identification
Byers, Chapters 17 & 18
Steadman, Chapters 3 & 20
April 17st
Recovery Scene Methods
Byers, Chapter 4
Steadman, Chapters 5 & 11
In-class Exercise #6
April 22nd
Estimating Postmortem Interval
Byers, Chapter 5
Steadman, Chapter 13
Assignment #2 Due
April 24th
Mass Disasters & Human
Rights Investigations
Byers, Chapter 19
Steadman, Chapters 23 & 24
April 29th
Daubert Group Presentations
N/A
Final Exam in CA 435 on Wednesday, May 1st from 3:30 to 5:30 pm
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