Worldwide, forensic anthropology postgraduate students and practitioners often struggle with gaining practical experience in their field due to a lack of and/or access to skeletal material. Furthermore, with the nature of biological materials and ethics, access to skeletal material with bone trauma and/or bone pathology may be limited. In 2008, the Forensic Anthropology Research Centre (FARC) was established at the University of Pretoria to address the large number of unidentified persons in South Africa but also to educate students and practitioners on forensic case analysis both within and outside the country. The FARC conducts analyses on approximately 60 cases per annum which are received from the Victim Identification Centre (VIC) of the South African Police Services (SAPS). In addition to training a number of postgraduate students, we also train practitioners in Zimbabwe on analyses for the biological profile and bone trauma.

The internship programme at FARC offers opportunities for postgraduate students and practitioners in forensic anthropology to gain experience in working with complete and fragmented adult and juvenile skeletal remains as well as bone trauma and pathology.

The Forensic Anthropology Research Centre (FARC) in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Pretoria in South Africa would like to invite you to take part in forensic anthropology internship programme.

The Forensic Skeletal Archives in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Pretoria houses approximately 800 cold cases from South Africa, containing adult males/females and sub-adults. Taphonomic variables within the sample include, but are not limited to, commingled remains, thermal alterations, carnivore activity, weathering, burials, and trophy skulls. Several skeletons, primarily represented by crania, are associated with bone trauma.

2023 Internship Dates

The programme lasts one to two weeks with periods from

• 26 June to 07 July 2023 and
• 10 to 21 July in 2023

1 Week Package (325 Euros)

• Lecture: Introduction to Forensic Anthropology and South African human variation
• Access to various cases from a South African context
• Analysis of a forensic case, including the biological profile (age, sex, population affinity and stature), taphonomy, bone trauma and/or bone pathology
• Peer review and feedback from staff (D-ABFA certified and others)
• One completed case report (minimum) to take home
• Report can be submitted to FASE and ABFA for review for examination purposes
• FARC manual – South African standards are provided

2 Week Package (450 euros)

• Lecture: Introduction to Forensic Anthropology and South African human variation
• Access to various cases from a South African context
• Analysis of two forensic cases, including the biological profile (age, sex, population affinity and stature), taphonomy, bone trauma and/or bone pathology
• Peer review and feedback from staff (D-ABFA certified and others)
• Two completed case reports (minimum) to take home
• Report can be submitted to FASE and ABFA for review for examination purposes
• FARC manual – South African standards are provided