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Written in Bone

An Introduction to Forensic and Bio-archaeology

Michael Westaway, Rob Bruce, Shaun Adams, Carney Matheson, and Rainer Grün

Michael Westaway, Rob Bruce, Shaun Adams, Carney Matheson, and Rainer Grün

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course would suit anyone interested in forensic archaeology or anthropology. It may be of particular interest to students of archaeology, and those involved in police work, or with investigating human remains. You can use the hashtag #FLskeletalanalysis to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Read more

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course would suit anyone interested in forensic archaeology or anthropology. It may be of particular interest to students of archaeology, and those involved in police work, or with investigating human remains. You can use the hashtag #FLskeletalanalysis to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Principles and tools of forensic and biological archaeology
Legislative requirements for the discovery of human skeletal remains
Using craniometrics, isotopes, DNA and Carbon 14 to read human skeletal remains
Sensitivities involved in working with human skeletal remains
Role of Indigenous partnerships in the archaeological recovery of human skeletal remains
Explore three sites from around the world

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Reviews summary

Engaging introduction to forensic and bio-archaeology

According to learners, Written in Bone: An Introduction to Forensic and Bio-archaeology offers a largely positive and highly engaging experience. Students consistently praise the clear explanations and passionate instructors who make complex topics accessible. It is widely considered an excellent starting point for those new to the field, providing a comprehensive overview of forensic and bio-archaeology, including legislative requirements, scientific techniques, and the sensitive handling of human remains. However, some experienced learners note it may be too basic for those with prior knowledge, suggesting it's primarily for beginners. The course's real-world examples and well-structured modules are frequently highlighted as strengths.

Covers a wide array of topics but may lack advanced depth.

"The breadth of topics covered was impressive, from legislative aspects to isotopic analysis."

"Good course for an overview, but not enough depth for someone already familiar with archaeology. It's definitely for beginners."

"Found it too basic. I have a background in biological anthropology and was hoping for more detailed scientific explanations..."

Includes useful real-world examples and practical applications.

"As a police officer, this course gave me invaluable insight into the forensic side of human remains discovery. The legislative requirements section was particularly useful for my job."

"The use of real-world examples and the exploration of different sites were fantastic."

"I learned a lot about the ethical considerations and legal frameworks, which isn't often covered."

Approaches sensitive subjects with appropriate care and professionalism.

"The content was presented clearly and respectfully, especially when dealing with sensitive topics like human remains and indigenous perspectives."

"The sensitivities involved were handled very professionally."

"The respectful approach to sensitive subjects... made it a truly enriching experience."

Provides a strong foundation for those new to the subject.

"As a complete beginner, I found the material incredibly engaging and well-explained."

"A solid introduction... overall, it's a great starting point."

"Truly introductory yet comprehensive. It's fine for someone with no prior knowledge."

"I found it very accessible even with no background, a great stepping stone."

Well-explained concepts by passionate and engaging instructors.

"Absolutely fascinating! I found the material incredibly engaging and well-explained. The instructors were excellent..."

"This course exceeded my expectations. The content was presented clearly and respectfully... The instructors' passion for the subject really shone through."

"Outstanding course! The clarity of explanations, the respectful approach to sensitive subjects, and the engaging way the material was delivered made it a truly enriching experience."

Suggestions for more visual aids and updated external resources.

"While mostly excellent, a few of the older external links were not working anymore."

"I wish there were more visual aids for some of the complex biological processes."

"A minor suggestion would be to update some of the external resources as a few links were broken."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Written in Bone: An Introduction to Forensic and Bio-archaeology. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Written in Bone: An Introduction to Forensic and Bio-archaeology will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

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Human Osteology

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A comprehensive guide to human osteology, covering the anatomy, histology, and development of the human skeleton. An excellent resource for medical students, forensic anthropologists, and archaeologists.

Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual

By William M. Bass - Human Osteology: A Laboratory...

Unknown Binding

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An engaging and accessible introduction to osteology for laypeople. Mann's writing style is engaging and humorous, making complex concepts easy to grasp. great starting point for anyone interested in learning about bones.

The Bone Book: A Photographic Lab Manual for...

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Bones: Inside and Out

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A detailed examination of the skeletal system, covering the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of bones. Swinton's writing is clear and concise, making complex topics easy to understand. valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of osteology.

Bones: Inside and Out

Bones: Inside and Out

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A comprehensive guide to the identification and interpretation of animal bones, covering topics such as taphonomy, zooarchaeology, and paleoecology. valuable resource for students and professionals in the fields of archaeology, zoology, and paleontology.

Zooarchaeology (Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology)

Zooarchaeology (Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology)...

Zooarchaeology China Edition (Cambridge Manuals in...

Zooarchaeology (Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology)

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The Sharks of North American Waters

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A detailed examination of the skeletal system of fishes, covering its anatomy, histology, and development. Castro's writing is clear and concise, making complex topics easy to understand. valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of osteology.

The Sharks of North American Waters (W. L. Moody...

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An Atlas of Comparative Vertebrate Histology

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A photographic atlas of the skeletal systems of vertebrates, covering a wide range of species from fish to mammals. Blob's photographs are clear and detailed, making this book a valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of osteology.

An Atlas of Comparative Vertebrate Histology

An Atlas of Comparative Vertebrate Histology

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Dead Men Do Tell Tales

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A comprehensive guide to the use of skeletal remains in forensic investigations, covering topics such as identification, trauma analysis, and age estimation. Maples' writing is clear and concise, making complex topics easy to understand. valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of forensic anthropology.

Dead Men Do Tell Tales: The Strange and Fascinating...

Dead Men Do Tell Tales: The Strange and Fascinating...

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Skeletons in Our Closet

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A field guide to the identification of bones and teeth, covering a wide range of species from fish to mammals. Larsen's writing is clear and concise, making this book a valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of archaeology.

Skeletons in Our Closet

By Clark Spencer Larsen - Skeletons in Our Closet...

Skeletons in Our Closet: Revealing Our Past through...

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Time

6 hours

Via

FutureLearn

Institution

Griffith University

Instructors

Michael Westaway

Rob Bruce

Shaun Adams

Carney Matheson

Rainer Grün

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