Bi7352c Forensic anthropology practical training

Faculty of Science
autumn 2017
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Petra Urbanová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Mikoláš Jurda, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Veronika Kováčová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jaroslav Malina, DrSc.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Petra Urbanová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 18. 9. to Fri 15. 12. Wed 9:00–10:50 FORLAB,-1021
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main objective of the course is to prepare anthropologists for practical utilization of knowledge acquired in the course Forensic anthropology. At the end of this course the students should be able to: define the principles and apply the procedures of treating human remains; i.e. secure them at the site (archeology of the site of discovery) and treat them in the laboratory. They should also be able to define and apply the basic methods and procedures used to analyze skeletal remains - should be able to assess the demographic classification of the individual (age, sex, body height, ethnic affinity); disclose and analyse his/her individual characteristics; decide on the procedures essential for the final identification of skeletal remains in the forensic practice.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to forensic anthropology
  • 2. Theoretical problems in osteometry; taphonomic changes of bone tissue
  • 3. Testing measurement accuracy
  • 4. Recordings and analyses of digital image; basic geometric morphometrics
  • 5. Histomorphometrics in forensic anthropology (histomorphometric discrimination of human and animal bones, determining age at death)
  • 6. Histomorphometric determination of age based on dental thin sections
  • 7. Assessment of population affinity
  • 8. Assessment of sex based on the pelvis (DSP, HIP)
  • 9. Bone tissue pathologies
  • 10. Parturition changes to bone tissue
  • 11. Hair in forensic anthropology
  • 12. Authorized expert activities
  • 13. Forensic genetics
  • 14. Student presentations
Literature
  • Iscan M.Y. (1988): Rise of Forensic Anthropology. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 31: 203-230.
  • VACCA, Eligio, Vladimír NOVOTNÝ, Václav VANČATA and Vittorio PESCE DELFINO. Sex Determinatio from the Pelvis: Analytic Definition of Reference Outlines in Sexing Incisura Ischiadica Major. (Sex Determination from the Pelvis: Analytic Definition of Reference Outlines in Sexing Incisura Ischiadica Major.). In Proceedings of the 10th Meeting of the International Association for Craniofacial Identification (A head Start on the New Millenium: the Latest in Craniofacial Identification). Bari, Italy: Universitá degli Studi di Bari, 2002, p. 27. info
  • VACCA, Eligio, Vladimír NOVOTNÝ, Václav VANČATA and Vittorio PESCE DELFINO. Symmetry analysis of incisura ischiadica major in sexing of human pelvis. Anthropologie. Brno: Moravian Museum - Anthropos Institute, 1997, XXXV, No 3, p. 291-301. ISSN 0323-1119. info
  • VYSTRČILOVÁ, Michaela and Vladimír NOVOTNÝ. Estimation of age at death using teeth. Variability and Evolution. Poznań: Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Anthropology, 2000, No 8, p. 39-49. ISSN 0860-7907. info
  • VYSTRČILOVÁ, Míchaela. Are microscopic ageing techniques more accurate than macroscopic ones. Scripta medica. Brno, 2003, vol. 76, No 4, p. 265-266. ISSN 1211-3395. info
  • URBANOVÁ, Petra and Vladimír NOVOTNÝ. Distinguishing between Human and Non-human bones: Histometric metod for forensic antropology. Anthropologie. 2005, XLIII, No 1, p. 77-85, 8 pp. ISSN 0323-1119. info
  • Ortner, D. J. - Putschar, W. G. J. (1981): Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
  • Králík M., Urbanová P., Mikešová T., Wagenknechtová M., Klíma O. (2013) HIP: High-sensitive Innominate Processing. Computer program for sex assessment according to the hip bone. Brno: Masaryk University. http://anthrop.sci.muni.cz/page.yhtml?id=594
  • Murail P, Bruzek J, Houët F, Cunha E (2005). DSP: A tool for probabilistic sex diagnosis using worldwide variability in hip-bone measurements. Bulletins et mémoires de la Société d’Anthropologie de Paris 17, 167–176.
Teaching methods
Preparation in form of practical training. The students perform practical tasks related to the topics in the Forensic anthropology course, they work in groups and individually under supervision of lectors. Within the course they elaborate a short review paper.
Assessment methods
Credit awarded based on laboratory protocols, elaboration and presentation of the review paper and evaluation of a practical task.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Spring 2011, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Spring 2014, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (autumn 2017, recent)
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