Interesting Anthropology and Paleontology News

There is some interesting news relating to anthropology and evolution – over and above Darwinius masillae (which I will have a couple of posts about next week).

Facial Reconstructions

Facial reconstructions are frequently used in forensic anthropology. Occasionally, they crop up in bioarchaeology as well (I’m thinking of a British TV show – the name of which escapes me – that also did facial reconstructions in every episode). They are also used in paleoanthropology – mainly museum displays – to give people a sense [...]

Yale, Skull and Bones, and the Federal Government Sued By Geronimo’s Family

I t has long be rumored that the skull and some of the bones of Geronimo were in the possession of Skull and Bones. A letter uncovered by a Yale historian (more of that shortly) seems to confirm the rumor. Descendants of Geronimo are suing according to MSNBC: Geronimo’s descendants have sued Skull and Bones [...]

Introducing A Forensic Osteology Metabase

Kambiz has been busy. He is part of a team developing a new metabase devoted to forensic osteology. As Kambiz describes it:

Interesting Anthropology News

There are a number of interesting anthropology stories in the news today. My picks below the fold.

The Value of Forensic Anthropology

Although the person mentioned in this article is an archaeologist, this is an excellent example of forensic anthropology in action.

Forensic Anthropology in the News

I’m currently working on a couple of book reviews that I hope to have up later in the week. In the meantime, I stumbled across this interesting story concerning forensic anthropology. According to the report a humerus, radius, and ulna were found as construction workers were demolishing a house. From the article:

Searching the Manson Ranch: More Forensic Anthropology in the News

The LA Times has an interesting story about Charles Manson and Barker Ranch. From the LA Times:

Forensic Anthropology in the News

There are a couple of interesting news items relating to forensic anthropology. First, this short piece on Beth Murray and forensic anthropology in high schools.

Personology is for Crackpots

Steve has taken time off from getting the new blog ready to bring us news of some credulous reporting on CNN. The reporting concerns some new woo called “Personology” which seeks to determine personality based on various measures of the face and hair. Forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology are concerned with looking at skeletal variation through [...]

A New Method of Determining Age From Teeth: One From The Archives

This is one from my old blog and was originally published on 9/16/05. I am republishing it because it bears on some recently published research, which I will get around to blogging about after I have read the recently published article a few more times.

Forensic Anthropology in the News

MSNBC has an interesting story about an infant skeleton found in a suitcase. The story is quite interesting and is a good example of what forensic anthropologists do. From MSNBC: State police said adult siblings cleaning out their elderly mother’s house after she died in early December found the skeleton in an “old style” suitcase [...]

Where is the Body?

This article is interesting from a forensic anthropology point of view. Hunters do tend to find a large number of skeletal remains and frequently bring them to the attention of the authorities.

Yes I’m Excited!

As Kambiz points out Bill Bass and the Body Farm debuted on Boing Boing today!

Forget CSI: Bill Bass on Science Friday

You may be surprised to learn that I when I was in college I was studying forensic anthropology – UT has the best program in forensic anthropology. My undergraduate advisor – William Bass – was on NPR’s Science Friday. Audio isn’t available yet but should be here at some point.