Forensic

Body location and recovery in forensic contexts

5th - 8th September 2011

This four-day innovative course is an opportunity to study and practice scientific techniques of body location, recovery and analysis. A series of seminars, hands-on laboratory sessions and fieldwork (involving experience of remote sensing techniques and 'body' excavation) will see attendees improve efficiency, and crucially, maximise forensic intelligence recovery at relevant scenes of crime.

The course will be delivered by leading academics with practitioner experience from the universities of Teesside and Durham who have complementary and world-leading expertise in bone chemistry, skeletal analysis, excavation and forensic science. The Centre for Forensic Investigation, Teesside University has a long history of excellence in forensic and crime scene teaching and research, and currently provide training and education for police forces, including the MET. The Department of Archaeology, Durham University has an international reputation for archaeological and skeletal research and practice and is the highest ranking archaeology department in terms of research in the UK. Staff from both universities are highly experienced and will be teaching the latest technological and methodological approaches; they are undertaking the research that will be in standard practice in the future. Development of this course has been funded by North East Higher Level Skills Pathfinder.

Comments from Previous Delegates

Charlotte Clay, Lancashire Constabulary - "Everything explained clearly and concisely by lecturers who were obviously experienced and passionate about what they do" and "all subjects related well to CSI work".

Simon Beckett, International Bestselling Crime Writer - "The practical aspects - in the field and in the lab - were particularly enlightening"

Cost

Course fee practitioner: £750
Course fee student: £350
Course fee includes course materials and refreshments (coffee, lunches)
Places are limited to 25; early booking is advised.

Accommodation

Delegates are asked to book their own accommodation. See the following website for lists of B&Bs and Hotels nearby:

http://www.thisisdurham.com/site/accommodation

How to book

Please contact Dr Tim Thompson (see details below) in the first instance to reserve your place and then complete the booking form and send it together with a cheque (payable to Durham University) to: Dr Rebecca Gowland, Department of Archaeology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE.

Booking deadline is 20^thAugust 2011; full course refund for cancellations received by 31^st August. No refunds after that date.

Course Enquiries

For any course enquiries please contact: Dr Tim Thompson, Teesside University on 01642 342535, or email t.thompson@tees.ac.uk or:

Dr Rebecca Gowland, Durham University via email: rebecca.gowland@durham.ac.uk.

Programme

Day 1

9.30am - 10.00am Introduction to the course

What is forensic archaeology and anthropology?

10.00am - 1.00pm Excavation protocol and evidence gathering

recording and interpreting grave cuts and fill
excavation protocol: ensuring maximum evidence
environmental sampling on site (palynology, entomology)
collection of physical evidence from the grave
recording material remains in situ
recording skeletal remains in situ, field anthropology
taphonomy

2.00pm - 5.00pm Basic osteology (Lab/Workshop)

basic and comparative anatomy

Day 2

9.00am - 10.00am Locating graves

aerial survey, remote sensing (use of geophysics and radar)
geographical profiling

10.30am - 5.30pm Body recovery and excavation exercise (Botanic Gardens)

experience using remote sensing equipment
excavation and recording of graves and/or skeletal remains

Day 3

9.00am - 12.30pm Osteoprofiling (including lunch break)

estimating age at death, sex, identification of skeletal pathologies and trauma, ancestry, stature

1.30pm - 5.00pm Forensic anthropology lab-based practical

recording a skeleton
application of anthropological techniques and osteological profiling

Day 4

9.00am - 11.00pm Biomolecular evidence

nuclear and mitochondrial DNA
stable isotope analysis
diatoms and microbial analysis

11.30 - 1.00pm Dental Evidence (Workshop)

identification from the dentition

2.00 - 4.00pm Case Studies

contextualising the evidence (examples from around the world)

Closing Remarks

Booking Form (last modified: 9 March 2011)