Human Osteoarchaeology

Human Osteoarchaeology Group logo
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Committee
Interim Chair
Samantha Tipper
Vice-chair
Heidi Dawson-Hobbis
Secretary
Kirsty Squires
Committee member
Sabrina Ki
Committee member
Jenny Mikkelsen
Committee member
Milena Grzybowska
Committee member
Rachel Ives
Committee member
Aoife McCaughey
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.

Osteology (PDF | 175.33 KB)
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.

OsteoSIG banner image
ARS Ltd

Join the Human Osteoarchaeology Special Interest Group

The CIfA Human Osteoarchaeology Special Interest Group (SIG) is open to anyone with an interest in human osteoarchaeology. You don’t need to be a CIfA member to join. We welcome students, early-career researchers, practitioners, academics and anyone keen to engage with the field.

CIfA members can join the Human Osteoarchaeology SIG for free through their online Member Area. Once joined, you’ll receive Group updates and have the opportunity to take part in events, discussions, and other activities.

Non-CIfA members are also very welcome to join as Group Supporters for £15 per year. This gives you access to the same communications and activities as CIfA members, specifically for the Human Osteoarchaeology Group.

If you’re unsure whether the Group is right for you or need help with the joining process, you can contact groups@archaeologists.net. We’re always happy to help and point you in the right direction.

For more information view the 'Join this Group' drop down section at the top of this page.

Human Osteoarchaeology Osteobites online talks
Human Osteoarchaeology SIG 2025 conference recordings

CIfA's Human Osteoarchaeology Special Interest Group 2025 conference took place online on Saturday October 18 2025 and will focus on dissemination of human osteoarchaeological findings, new projects, case studies, fieldwork, methods and research networking.

The recording information will be shared with you via email and will include a link to a PDF containing the recording links, as well as link to the playlist of recordings from the day.

If you have any questions about the event or your purchase, please email groups@archaeologists.net.

Recordings of Human Osteoarchaeology SIG online day conference available here

Group publications and newsletters
CIfA OsteoSIG Group - Newsletter - January 2025 (PDF | 551.84 KB)

In 2019, we provided a workshop that offered theoretical and hands-on training in the use of new osteological methods to identify stages of puberty in human skeletal remains. Exciting new avenues of research into the archaeology of adolescence were discussed, along with how osteoarchaeologists working in the commercial sector could contribute to future studies. Participants had the opportunity to apply the methods to skeletal remains and evaluate the stage of puberty, under the guidance of the co-creator of the techniques, Dr. Mary Lewis.

A recording form was developed to summarize the assessment criteria and ease the application of the techniques. A summary table was also created to aid in estimating the stage of puberty the individual was experiencing, as well as to indicate the physical changes the body was undergoing at the time of death. Both can be downloaded below.

Falys and Lewis - Puberty Status Recording Form

Falys and Lewis - Revised Puberty Assessment Table

Group meeting minutes and documents

Events