Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology Response Team

Contact Information

To contact us, please email or call Dr. Mari Isa at 806-834-3532.

About Us

The Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology Response Team is housed within the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work at Texas Tech University. We conduct research, provide graduate academic training, and offer casework services to law enforcement agencies and medicolegal professionals in west Texas in the areas of forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology.

Forensic anthropology is the examination of human skeletal remains for law enforcement agencies and medicolegal professionals, while forensic archaeology applies methods of archaeological excavation to search for and recover human remains and evidence from crime scenes.

Forensic Casework Services

Human vs. Nonhuman: distinguish between human and animal skeletal remains and non-skeletal material to determine if further analysis and investigation are necessary.

Biological Profile: perform full analyses of unidentified skeletal remains to estimate sex, ancestry, age, and stature, and to document other individualizing information.

Trauma Analysis: document and evaluate skeletal trauma to provide information on the timing and type of injury.

Field Recovery: apply expertise in archaeological field methods to assist law enforcement in the systematic recovery of skeletal remains and associated evidence.

Affiliated Faculty

Dr. Mari Isa: Forensic anthropology, trauma analysis, identification

Dr. Brett A. Houk: Forensic archaeology, total data station mapping, photogrammetry

Dr. Arthur Durband: Osteological analysis

Dr. Anna Novotny: Excavation, osteological analysis, identification