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The Real World of Crime Scene Investigation

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Dr. Bill Bass takes us into the real world of C.S.I. in Beyond the Body Farm. Dr. Bass is a pioneer in forensic anthropology and the creator of the world’s first laboratory dedicated to the study of human decomposition – three acres of land on a hillside in Tennessee where human bodies are left to the elements. Dr. Bass joins Leonard to share insights from his 50 year career in forensics.

Beyond the Body Farm is available for purchase at amazon.com

Guests:

Dr. Bill Bass

Comments [7]

SM from NJ

Dr. Bass mentioned that there were other prehistoric skeletons of possibly non-Asian race found in the North American. I am very curious about other non-Asian skeletons that have been found. Just who came here and from where?
Can the doctor recommendany sources of information or is it too controversial ?

Sep. 12 2007 11:02 PM
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Charles Nydorf from New York


Dr Bass is wrong about Kennewick man who has no particular resemblance to modern Europeans.
I don't have my bibliography right in front me now but believe me there is a consensus on this based on very sophisticated statistical analyses of measurements on the skeleton. The skeleton does not fit that well in with any modern population but the closest are the Ainu of Japan and some other Pacific peoples.
In general, the racial divisions that are found among modern people did not exist 10,000 years ago.

Sep. 12 2007 12:55 PM
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Liv from Brooklyn/Manhattan (work)

I thought a skeleton couldn't determine the race of the person when they were alive.

Sep. 12 2007 12:36 PM
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Liv from Brooklyn/Manhattan (work)

this is a bit grim for lunch time chat,

Sep. 12 2007 12:32 PM
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Chan

The correct spelling of his name is Bass, not Blass.

Sep. 12 2007 12:28 PM
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David Harrington from Kennewick Man

Dear Leonard, In class we are reading an essay about the controversial Kennewick Man remains. I was wondering if perhaps Dr. Blass could comment on that case, and also, in general, whether anthropologists can validly reconstruct the race of human remains and what that says scientifically about race.

Sep. 12 2007 12:11 PM
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perri

I'm someone who can not watch horror movies or look at grizzly crimescene photos, let alone watch those anti-smoking commercials showing the gross effects of cigarette smoking to the body. YET, I'm really looking forward to downloading this interview. I've read the excerpt and have added the book to my wishlist.

Now, if only I can find the guts (pun intended) to purchase it.

Sep. 12 2007 11:37 AM
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