Paying for college:
| New course | Undergraduate |
| First term offered : Spring 2013 | ||
| Course Prefix&Number | Descriptive Title | Credits/Hours |
| ANTH441 | Forensic Archaeology and Taphonomy | 4 - |
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Abbreviation for Class Schedule(20 spaces) Forensic Arch/Taph |
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Catalog Description: Introduction to forensic archaeology or the application of archaeological methods to the resolution of medicolegal issues. Students learn and apply search and recovery techniques. Students are then introduced to forensic taphonomy or the subfield of forensic anthropology that examines how taphonomic forces have altered evidence subject to medicolegal investigation. Prerequisite: Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Osteology. Cross-listed with Criminal Justice. |
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Course Goal and Objectives: ¿ reconstruct the circumstances of the decedent's death ¿ locating buried or otherwise hidden ("clandestine") remains ¿ excavating buried remains and artifacts ¿ collecting remains and artifacts that are scattered over the ground surface ¿ recording important environmental data that is later used in the analysis of the remains or by entomologists, botanists, and other specialists ¿ establish how and when the human remains ended up at the recovery spot ¿ Estimate the time since death (postmortem interval) ¿ understand the natural forces that may have disturbed the scene after it was created ¿ be certain that evidence found at the scene is actually associated with the case ¿ distinguish between perimortem injury and postmortem pseudotrauma |
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Justification for adding the course (e.g. alignment with other institutions, program revision, etc.): This course will enhance and expand the Anthropology department. The course will be cross-listed as a required core course for a new forensic anthropology minor in the Criminal Justice Department. |
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Faculty and facilities needed: An outdoor lab of at least 1 acre of secluded land for students to apply methods and better meet the course objectives. |
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Brief Course outline: Readings: Dupras T, Schultz J, Wheeler S, & Williams L (2006). Forensic Recovery of Human Remains. CRC Press. Haglund W & Sorg M, eds. (1997). Forensic Taphonomy. CRC Press. Byrd, . H. and Castner, J. L. eds. (2000) Entomological Evidence: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. CRC Press. Week 1 Introduction to Forensic Archaeology Week 2 Site/scene Location ¿ Search Techniques Week 3 Site/scene Documentation ¿ Mapping, Photography, Notetaking Week 4 Site/scene Recovery - Excavation Techniques Week 5 Site/scene Recovery ¿ Collection and Packaging Techniques Week 6 Introduction to Forensic Taphonomy Week 7 Biotaphonomy ¿ Environmental Agents Week 8 Biotaphonomy ¿ Cultural Agents Week 9 Geotaphonomy ¿ The Body as Taphonomic Agent Week 10 Review |
| Step | Approver | Decision | Timestamp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Department | Robin Smith | Approved | December 14 2011 |
| 2 - Division | John Rector | Approved | January 11 2012 |
| 3 - Division Curriculum | Mark Henkels | Approved | January 11 2012 |
| 5 - Curriculum Committee | Thaddeus Shannon | Approved | January 31 2012 |
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Comments: Prerequisites: ANTH 322 Forensic Anthropology and ANTH 328/CJ 328 Forensic Osteology. |
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| 6 - Faculty Senate | Gavin Keulks | Approved | February 28 2012 |
| 7 - Dean | Stephen Scheck | Approved | February 29 2012 |
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Comments: All aspects of placing the forensic anthropology-related courses (this course and all the other currently proposed courses) into the schedule and lab facilities needed for the lab-related courses will be part of the intentional design of rolling up the crime analysis programming that is serviced by the CJ and anthropology department. Timing of development will need to fit within LAS budgetary capacity. |
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| 8 - Provost | Kent Neely | Approved | March 01 2012 |
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