There is an overwhelming belief in the Australian archaeology community that human bioarchaeology (osteoarchaeology) is a field that does not exist within Australia. Archaeology students who I have come across have reported to me numerous times, having been told by senior members of the archaeological community, that there is no training, nor work available as a bioarchaeologist in Australia. This is of course not the case. Many research active bioarchaeologists and osteologists work in Australia including myself (Sydney, NSW), Prof Kate Domett (Townsville, QLD), Dr Justyna Miszkiewicz (Brisbane, QLD), Assoc Prof Daniel Franklin (Perth, WA), Dr Eline Schotsmans (Wollongong, NSW) among many others.
Human skeletal analysis expertise in Australia is necessary for Indigenous repatriation of ancestral human remains from museums and academic institutions who have legacy collections, historical cemetery projects, identification of Australian POW/MIAs overseas from 20th Century conflict, identification of ancestral remains accidentally exposed through natural phenomena such as erosion of sand dunes, and also in forensic contexts (forensic anthropology). Though rare, we do engage in community-led projects when Aboriginal groups reach out for our expertise to understand more about their ancestors. Bioarchaeologists who live in Australia are also concerned with research projects in neighbouring countries of Asia-Pacific. Many of us reconstruct the lives and health of those in the ancient past to understand the resilience of humankind to climate change, inequality, rising urbanisation, emergence of novel infectious diseases, and many other challenges that our societies face today.
Training centres for human bioarchaeology and/or forensic anthropology in Australia and New Zealand include:
School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Canberra
- Major in Biological Anthropology (Undergraduate and Honours options)
- Masters of Archaeology and Evolutionary Sciences
- PhD
Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology, James Cook University University, Townsville
- MPhil
- PhD
Centre for Forensic Anthropology, University of Western Australia, Perth
- Master of Forensic Anthropology
- PhD
School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Minor in Biological Anthropology (Undergraduate, Honours, Postgrad Diploma)
- Masters in Anatomy
- PhD
School of Health Sciences, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney
- Honours (Biomedical Sciences)
- MPhil
- PhD
Human skeletal analysis expertise in Australia is necessary for Indigenous repatriation of ancestral human remains from museums and academic institutions who have legacy collections, historical cemetery projects, identification of Australian POW/MIAs overseas from 20th Century conflict, identification of ancestral remains accidentally exposed through natural phenomena such as erosion of sand dunes, and also in forensic contexts (forensic anthropology). Though rare, we do engage in community-led projects when Aboriginal groups reach out for our expertise to understand more about their ancestors. Bioarchaeologists who live in Australia are also concerned with research projects in neighbouring countries of Asia-Pacific. Many of us reconstruct the lives and health of those in the ancient past to understand the resilience of humankind to climate change, inequality, rising urbanisation, emergence of novel infectious diseases, and many other challenges that our societies face today.
Training centres for human bioarchaeology and/or forensic anthropology in Australia and New Zealand include:
School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Canberra
- Major in Biological Anthropology (Undergraduate and Honours options)
- Masters of Archaeology and Evolutionary Sciences
- PhD
Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology, James Cook University University, Townsville
- MPhil
- PhD
Centre for Forensic Anthropology, University of Western Australia, Perth
- Master of Forensic Anthropology
- PhD
School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Minor in Biological Anthropology (Undergraduate, Honours, Postgrad Diploma)
- Masters in Anatomy
- PhD
School of Health Sciences, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney
- Honours (Biomedical Sciences)
- MPhil
- PhD
