This course addresses methodological approaches to recognizing, documenting, and analyzing skeletal trauma, as well as theoretical frameworks for understanding violence in bioarchaeological and forensic contexts. Course readings include a reference text, and literature examining principles underlying fracture causation and interpretation (bone biomechanics), inventorying fragmentary bone, distinguishing ante-, peri-mortem injury from post-mortem damage, etc.

Topics for discussion include intimate partner violence, interpersonal violence, warfare, and genocide in bioarchaeological and forensic contexts. Grading is based on presentations, discussions, and labs during which students will practice techniques of analysis and interpretation.