We offer a wide range of expertise in human skeletal remains in archaeological, forensic or medico-legal contexts nationally and internationally.
The Group focuses on research and development, and training and consultancy. It provides forensic anthropological analysis and consultancy for police forces, law enforcement agencies and other forensic science providers, as well as NGOs, local governments, museums and other institutions.
The staff have a wide range of experience, with expertise in the search and recovery of human skeletal remains or, in an advanced state of decomposition, victim identification (for example, by estimating age-at-death, sex and stature), damage to bone, legislation and protocols. This could involve archaeological sites, crime scenes or human rights investigations.
The Group provides analytical facilities and services for the forensic, physical anthropology and osteoarchaeology communities, and provides advice on several aspects of human skeletal remains. It also provides consultancy in age estimation in the living for both civil and criminal cases.
We are the focus for teaching and research in all aspects of forensic anthropology, at MSc, PhD and post-doctoral level. We also run a number of short courses open to anyone with an interest in the subject.
The Forensic Anthropology Group was established in 2010 and is led by Dr Nicholas Marquez-Grant who can be contacted for further information.
Our facilities
Our forensic facilities include:
- Forensic Anthropology Laboratory with bench space available and a number of analytical instruments;
- F3 Forensic Fieldwork Facility for taphonomic research;
- A wide range of other experts working closely with cases related to forensic anthropology are available including those specialising in ballistics, archaeology, textile degradation, post-mortem interval and trauma.
Our research
Current research projects include:
- New methods in age-at-death, sex and stature estimation;
- Age estimation in the living;
- Analysis of cremated bone;
- Human versus non-human bone;
- Peri-mortem and post-mortem damage on bone;
- Dental and skeletal pathology;
- Post-mortem interval;
- Search and recovery of human remains;
- Protocols for good practice.
