The Forensic Anthropology Research Unit is made up of forensic anthropology and archaeology practitioners Professor Soren Blau (Manager, Human Identification and Senior Forensic Anthropologist), Dr Samantha Rowbotham (Forensic Anthropologist) and Mr Jon Sterenberg (Forensic Archaeologist) who also undertake and supervise research that aims to address questions that have arisen during casework. This research includes aspects of Search and Recovery, the Analysis and Interpretation of Skeletal Trauma, Evidence in Court, and Human Identification. Within these areas members of the Unit actively publish in peer-reviewed forensic medical and science journals, and supervise honours and postgraduate students from Monash and external Universities.
The Forensic Anthropology Research Unit areas of research (including select projects) comprise:
Search and Recovery
This research is focused on improving our understanding about the effects of decomposition on the environment and how these changes impact the detection of single and mass graves. This research is undertaken at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic and Experimental Research (AFTER).
- Detecting single and mass graves: a southern hemisphere perspective (Partial funding provided by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Centre)
Analysis and Interpretation of Skeletal Trauma
This research is focused on strengthening the evidence base for the analysis and interpretation of skeletal trauma in medico-legal contexts. The majority of this research is undertaken retrospectively using the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM)’s database of >70,000 full-body post-mortem computer tomography (PMCT) scans with associated coronial documentation.
- The distribution and morphology of fractures resulting from fatal falls (Funded by Monash University)
- Differentiating unintentional short falls from non-accidental injury in children (Funded by the Victorian Endowment for Science, Knowledge and Innovation 2017 Fellowship)
- Rib fractures resulting from cardiopulmonary resuscitation in infants
- Skull fractures resulting from blunt force trauma (Funded by the Australian Academy of Forensic Science 2018 Fellowship)
- Quantification and interpretation of the “degree of force” (Funded by Monash University)
Evidence in Court
This research focuses on investigating which format of presenting forensic medical evidence in court provides lay people (i.e., jurors) with the most accurate and least confronting understanding of the evidence. This research is undertaken in collaboration with Jurors Victoria.
- Improving Jurors’ understanding of complex forensic medical evidence in court (Funded by the National Institute of Forensic Sciences)
Human Identification
This research is focused on providing improved methods to assist with the identification of deceased individuals. This research is facilitated through use of a combination of resources including the AFTER facility, the VIFM’s PMCT database and the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) database.
- Bomb pulse dating in the Southern hemisphere (Funded by Monash University)
- Efficacy of the human identification service at the VIFM
- Validity of ‘age-at-death’ estimation methods in juvenile and adult remains
- Human decomposition in aquatic environments
- Standardised recording of skeletal completeness for whole and fragmentary remains