Dr Heather Bonney

Dr Heather Bonney

Principal CiC, Vertebrates and Anthropology

ORCID: 0000-0003-0441-7877
Department: Earth Sciences
Division: ES Vertebrates and Anthropology Palaeobiology
Specialisms: Forensic anthropology, Physical anthropology, Forensic archaeology, Human Osteology, Analysis of trauma, Repatriation
Email: anthropology@nhm.ac.uk

Summary

I'm the Principal Curator in Charge of the Vertebrate Palaeontology & Anthropology leading a team of curators caring for the fossil mammal, fossil fish, fossil reptiles, birds & amphibians and anthropology collections.

I'm also the Principal Curator of Anthropology, responsible for collections including human remains (comprised of approximately 25,000 individuals), Palaeoanthropology, Artefact and Fossil primates.

I'm a practicing Forensic Anthropologist, specialising in the identification and analysis of human remains in criminal and civil cases.

My research interests lie in the field of Forensic Anthropology, particularly in the analysis of trauma, morphology of tool marks and mechanical properties of human bone. I'm also interested in the history of human remains collections, and historical collections/collecting practices and ethical practices in curation, research & display. I am a former member of the Steering Committee for the British Association for Forensic Anthropology and the Board of Trustees of the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteology.

Qualifications

Degrees

  • PhD Forensic Science, University of Lincoln, United Kingdom
  • MSc Human Osteology & Funerary Archaeology, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
  • BSc(hons) Forensic Science, University of Lincoln, United Kingdom

Employment history

Academic

  • Principal Curator in Charge, Vertebrate Palaeontology & Anthropology, Natural History Museum, United Kingdom, 2021 - ongoing
  • Principal Curator of Anthropology, Natural History Museum, London, UK, 2017 - ongoing
  • Senior Curator in Charge, Anthropology & Human Remains, Natural History Museum, London, UK, 2017 - ongoing
  • Collections Manager, Human Remains and Repatriation, Natural History Museum, London, UK, 2015 - 2017
  • Human Remains Data Collection Project Manager, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, 2008 - 2014
  • Lecturer/Research Assistant, University of Lincoln, Department of Forensic and Biomedical Sciences, United Kingdom, 2005 - 2008

Highlighted publications

  • Bonney H, Goodman A (2021) Validity of the use of porcine bone in forensic cut mark studies. Journal of Forensic Sciences, (1) Wiley : 278 - 284. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.14599
  • Bonney H, Bekvalac J, Phillips C (2019) Human Remains in Museum Collections in the United Kingdom. Ethical Approaches to Human Remains. Springer International Publishing : 211 - 237. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-32926-6_10
  • Bonney HE (2015) Richard III: skeletal evidence of perimortem trauma. The Lancet, (9964) Elsevier BV : 210 - 210. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(14)61253-8
  • Bonney H (2014) An investigation of the use of discriminant analysis for the classification of blade edge type from cut marks made by metal and bamboo blades. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, (4) Wiley : 575 - 584. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.22558
  • Redfern R, Bonney H (2014) Headhunting and amphitheatre combat in Roman London, England: new evidence from the Walbrook Valley. Journal of Archaeological Science, Elsevier BV : 214 - 226. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2013.12.013
  • Bonney H (2013) Sorcery and shipwrecks: Headhunting in the Torres Strait Islands. The Routledge Handbook of the Bioarchaeology of Human Conflict. Knüsel C, Smith M (Eds).Routledge: London.
  • Bonney H, Colston BJ, Goodman AM (2011) Regional variation in the mechanical properties of cortical bone from the porcine femur. Medical Engineering & Physics, (4) Elsevier BV : 513 - 520. doi: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2010.12.002

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