Announcement of SFU seminar reading:
This week's SFU Archaeology seminar talk will be given (in person and online) by Dr. Gail Anderson (SFU Criminology) presenting: “Eaters of the Dead: The Fate of Bodies in the Ocean"
Thursday, March 12th, 3:30 pm PST
Abstract:
"A great deal of forensic entomology research is concentrated on the terrestrial environment, yet many bodies are found in the ocean. This talk will show some of the marine taphonomic studies I have conducted in the Salish Sea, in Howe Sound, Saanich Inlet and Georgia Strait, at a variety of depths and seasons using pig carcasses as human proxies. The first carcasses were placed in Howe Sound in collaboration with the RCMP Dive Team, Vancouver Aquarium, Canadian Coastguard and the Canadian Amphibious Search Team. Carcasses went through traditional decompositional stages at several depths, but faunal colonization was impacted by depth and season, as well as sediment type. These studies were limited by diver availability, weather conditions, safety and depth. The subsequent studies were conducted in collaboration with Ocean Networks Canada’s Victoria Experimental Network Underseas (VENUS) cabled, underwater laboratory, which involved real-time, remotely operated cameras, vehicles and instruments to monitor carcass decomposition 24/7. Carcasses were scavenged rather than decomposed and skeletonization varied from 3-4 days to months depending on a number of variables, but primarily driven by oxygen levels."
For those attending in person, we’ll be in Saywell Hall 9152 at 3:30pm.
For those attending online, please register in advance (up until moments before the talk!) at this link:
https://sfu.zoom.us/meeting/register/AmExDiR5TNKE5Z27vzGHuQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Seminar from @sfuarchaeology.bsky.social this week is on human #forensics - decomposition in the ocean, given by Dr Gail Anderson.
On campus or by zoom (register in advance) sfu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...