Introduction to Human Osteology | 4-Day Short Course | VIFM

This 4-day course offers an in-depth study of the human skeleton through lectures & workshops using real skeletal remains from the VIFM.

This four-day short course offers an in-depth study of the human skeleton through informative lectures and interactive hands-on practical sessions using real human skeletal remains from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine’s (VIFM) reference skeletal collection.

The course will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of human skeletal and dental anatomy and give participants the opportunity to learn how to identify and side skeletal elements (including major anatomical landmarks) and classify dental remains. Participants will also be introduced to the osteological principles of differentiating human from non-human bone, identifying juvenile remains, identifying fragmentary remains and creating a biological profile (i.e., estimating age, sex, ancestry and stature).

This course is beneficial for archaeologists, museum curators and heritage officers who may work with skeletal remains; students who are interested in pursuing studies/careers in biological archaeology or forensic anthropology, and medical professionals (i.e., forensic pathologists) who are required to undertake anthropological examinations of skeletal remains.

No prior knowledge of human osteology is required for this course. Lectures will be delivered by discipline specific experts from the VIFM and external organisations

Course Objectives

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

• understand the basic principles of bone biology and skeletal growth

• understand the basic principles of human variation

• identify the major anatomical landmarks and key features of each bone

• side each bone in the human body

• distinguish human bones from some of the most common animal bones

• identify the main bone features that are used to provide a biological profile (sex, age, ancestry and stature).