Expert: Ralph Salier - 3/6/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello Mr. Salier, I am looking to apply to graduate programs for 2010 (or 2011 if I need to do additional coursework beforehand). I am hoping to study human osteology, but I'm not sure in what context... forensics? human biology/physical anth.? some sort of museum or curation job?  Essentially, I want to have bones on the table in front of me and 'solve' them.  Is there any information you could give me to help make my choice? If not, do you know of anyone I should contact? Thanks so much for your time.

ANSWER: Hi Allison,

When you say you want to "solve them" what do you mean?  

Here are some more questions. With your complete answers, I may be able to direct you to a program:

1) do you watch and like CSI and NCSI?

2) Did you used to watch any of  the older forensics programs?

3) What does osteology mean to you?

4) Have you ever worked with bones before?  Please be detailed in your response.

5) Are you interested in law enforcement?

6) Are you interested in comparative osteology?

7) Have you ever taken course work in Archaeology or Physical Anth?  If so be detailed in your response.

8) Have you ever worked in a museum? If you have please be detailed in your response.

I may have more questions once you have answered these but I should have a direction for you to research.

Ralph (rsalier@hotmail.com)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I suppose I was a bit cryptic when I posed my question.  In answer to yours,
1. Yes, I enjoy those shows, though I'm not entirely sure they're realistic.
2. Yes, I used to watch pretty much any and all of those forensic/crime shows.
3. Osteology, to me, is the study of bones. i.e. finding out who this person is, what is their ethnicity, age, cause of death, pathology history, etc.
4. Yes, I have worked with bones before, in a college course called Human Osteology, in which we learned everything about every bone in the body.  At the end of the course, we were each given a cold case - just a box of bones, really - and instructed to piece together all that you could.  I suppose that's what I mean by 'solve' the bones.
5. I don't think I'd be great at being a law enforcement officer, but I might be capable of working in a lab that receives and helps with cases.
6. I'm not entirely sure what comparative osteology is.  If it's comparison within the hominoids, I would be interested.
7. Yes, I have taken several courses in Arch. and Phys. Anth.  My major when I graduated in 2007 was Anthropology, but my specialty was archaeology.  My courses included Evolution/Behavior of Primates, Human Osteology, Archaeological Techniques, Peopling of the Americas, etc. Since graduating, I have worked around the Great Basin doing CRM archaeology.
8. I would love to work in a museum, but I have no connections in that realm, so it has been near impossible!  Also, I'm not sure how to contact them about working with them right now since I have no real expertise and I'd rather not just be the gift shop girl.  I be so excited to work in one of the many museums that has collections of skeletons to curate and analyze.

Thank you for being so thorough in addressing my question!  I will answer any other questions you have, so please do throw them my way.  Thanks again.

Answer
Good Answers.  

Now that you've had a taste of Archaeology and doing contract work, what is your drive to move to working with bones rather then the entire tool kit (including the bones)?

Comparative osteology looks at not just human bones but bones of all animals, compares them and helps you learn how similar the structures are.

Museology is something you can get into and study if you want, U of Arizona has a good program in the field as does U of Chicago.

Forensics is a very neat field with a lot of lab work (al la Bones on  TV), but rather then working with bones, you will mostly work with bodies and the remains ( the modern tool kit so to speak).  You can approach any one of the police departments you may encounter out in the field and ask to see their labs just to get a feel for what they do.  

The University of Tenn. operates the "Body Farm" and that is a very interesting place.  Northwestern may still operate its maceration lab outside of Kampsville Ill, where they macerate and collect the bones of many other animals for study.  


So, questions:

1) do you want to stay in archaeology

2) do work like the TV show bones

3) work with collections as in the Smithsonian

4) Work in forensics where the remains may still be flesh and bones??

5) develop reconstructive work to "rebuild the face of  the victim"?


Let me know.  I provided you me email address if you want to contact me that way.