Human Osteoarchaeology

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Committee
Interim Chair
Samantha Tipper
Secretary
Ceri Falys
Committee member
Kirsty Squires
Committee member
Sabrina Ki
Committee member
Heidi Dawson-Hobbis
Committee member
Jenny Mikkelsen
Committee member
Milena Grzybowska
Committee member
Rachel Ives
Committee member
Aoife McCaughey
Advisor
Sharon Clough
Specialist competence matrix

This specialist matrix is to assist applicants and the Validation committee to see where you demonstrate the grade applied for when working in Osteology.

Three year plan

Human Osteoarchaeology Special Interest Group represents the interests of professionals who work or have an interest in the area of osteoarchaeology and burial studies. We aim to promote standards and good practice for the excavation, treatment, conservation, analysis and curation of human remains and funerary archaeology from the historic environment.

Call for papers! 

We are hosting a conference on Saturday October 18 2025 and will focus on dissemination of human osteoarchaeological findings, new projects, case studies, fieldwork, methods and research networking.

Do you have a project that you would like to present? We are inviting proposals for 15 minute papers and also for a student 5 slides in 5 minute session.

To submit a session simply complete the Microsoft proposal form which can be found here https://forms.office.com/e/rHz7UG8DMw 

The deadline is 17:00 on Thursday 31 July 2025. We will respond to proposals by August 18 2025 to let you know if your abstract was accepted.

Osteobites talks

Throughout 2025, we will be running our Osteobites series of short talks followed by questions and discussion.

The next session will be held at 18:30 until 19:30 on Thursday 31 July 2025. This session will feature a talk by Dr Claire Hodson, Lecturer in Bioarchaeology from Durham University. The title is still to be confirmed, but we encourage you to sign up so you don't miss out!

To register to attend July's talk or for more information, visit the Osteobites booking page

Previous Osteobites recordings

Publications

Events

Event date

To assess the pubertal stage, seven individual osteological markers have been developed, including the extent of the development of the mandibular canine root and hook of hamate, fusion epiphyses of the hand phalanges, distal radius and humerus, and proximal ulna, the presence and fusion of the iliac crest epiphysis, and the morphology of the cervical vertebral body. A recording form has been developed to summarize the assessment criteria, to ease the application of the techniques. A summary table has also been developed to aid in the estimation of the stage of puberty the individual was experiencing, as well as an indication of the physical changes the body was undergoing at the time of death.

The aim of the session is to inform attendees about the use of x-rays in osteoarchaeology. With a particular emphasis on pathology and how these can be observed with the use of x-rays.