Anthropology/ Archaeology services
| Unit presentation | Education and Research |
Excavation / Exhumation
The forensic anthropologist is required to exhume and recover bone remains in any condition to document the case by applying forensic archaeology protocols. If necessary, we use modern forensic imaging tools (CT-Scanner, 3D Surface scanners, etc.).
Anthropological analysis of bone / skeletal remains
Morphological analyses performed on unidentified human material to document the biological origin (age, sex, stature, etc.) and the presence of possible pathologies (traumatic or disease traces on the bones).
Non-bony human remains / skeleton
The forensic anthropologist and the medical examiner work closely together in cases where specific analyses of bone elements are required to examine lethal or non-lethal trauma mechanisms or other aspects of bone fractures.
Carbon-14 analysis
In cases of unclear postmortem time, carbon-14 dating can be performed in cooperation with partner institutes to determine whether the case falls within an archaeological (>70 years) or forensic (<70 years) time frame.
Isotope analyses
The SHIFT Forensic Anthropology Laboratory is also capable of conducting isotope analyses on human remains. This type of analysis provides valuable bioarchaeological information for assessing dietary habits, obtaining information on social rank or patterns of population mobility. However, multi-isotopic analyses (including, for example, C, N, O, H, S, Sr and Pb) obtained on different tissues (teeth, bones, hair and nails) can also be used today in forensic anthropology to identify the possible region of origin of unidentified human remains.