Forensic student at University of Winchester's new research

Forensic investigation student Lucy White's dissertation concentrated on the harm that remains can sustain while buried and during excavation.

Her study focused on unintentional damage to remains, a less explored area compared to the deliberate damage caused by weapons or strangulation.

In murder trials it is often questioned how much of the damage was inflicted during an attack and how much was a result of the recovery process.

There is always a risk of accidental damage during searches, and proving that damage was not inflicted during recovery can be challenging.

Such damage could be from spades, trowels, or shovels, as well as from weathering, acidic soil, or animal gnawing prior to excavation.

Ms White studied femurs and tibias from skeletons found at the medieval leprosy hospital on Magdalen Hill, Winchester.

Her findings, examined under a stereomicroscope, were matched with the original excavation notes.

Ms White aspires for her findings to form a database aiding forensic anthropologists in distinguishing types of damage and assist archaeologists in devising methods to lessen excavation damage.

Having just completed her course, she holds a conditional offer for a master’s degree in bio-archaeology and forensic anthropology at University College London, where she intends to further her research.

Ms White, 21, from Reading, said: "I’d love to pursue a career in forensic anthropology."

Ms White's supervisor, senior lecturer in forensics, Anna Chaussée, said: "We are all so proud of Lucy's accomplishments and we look forward to working with her on real cases in the future!"

The Bsc (Hons) forensic investigation degree at the university enlightens students about the ethical and practical dimensions of working with skeletonised human remains.

Students are encouraged to gain hands-on experience in forensic anthropological techniques and to consider forensic anthropology as a research topic for their final-year project.