What people think are human bones: Preliminary results from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM)/La Trobe University animal bone project

Each year, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) receives numerous reports of potential human ( Homo sapiens ) skeletal remains from the police who obtain information from archaeologists, the public and various other sources. In the majority of cases, a forensic anthropological analysis concludes that the material comprises non-human (i.e. animal) skeletal remains, rather than those derived from a human. As non-human skeletal remains are not of medico-legal significance, the species and elements are not usually identified and it is not necessary to retain this material. A collaborative project was developed between the VIFM and La robe University, involving a detailed faunal analysis of non-human skeletal remains admitted to the VIFM between 2005 and mid-2015 to identify patterning in the species, element and context of bones mistaken for human skeletal remains. Preliminary results indicate that a variety of animal taxa, both native and introduced, are admitted to the VIFM, as well as a range of anatomical parts