Douglas H. Ubelaker (born 1946) is an American

forensic anthropologist Forensic anthropology is the application of the anatomical science of anthropology and its various subfields, including forensic archaeology and forensic taphonomy, in a legal setting. A forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification o ...

. He works as a curator for the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

, and has published numerous papers and monographs that have helped establish modern procedures in

forensic anthropology Forensic anthropology is the application of the anatomical science of anthropology and its various subfields, including forensic archaeology and forensic taphonomy, in a legal setting. A forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification o ...

. He has also done work in Latin America, with Native Americans, and assists the

FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and its principal Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement age ...

in forensic cases.

Life

Ubelaker was born August 23, 1946 in

Horton, Kansas Horton is a city in Brown County, Kansas, Brown County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,523. History Horton was founded in 1886. It was named for Albert H. Horton, chief ...

. He became interested in Anthropology after working with Dr. Bill Bass on an American Indian project in the Dakotas.Ubelaker, Douglas H and Scammell, Henry.(1993). Bones: A Forensic Detective's Casebook. New York: HarperCollins. He received his B.A. at the

University of Kansas The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...

in 1968. He spent the years of 1969 to 1971 in the United States Army. In the Army, he first served as a military policeman, then as a microbiology technician. Working as a technician connected him with the

National Museum of Natural History The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. It has free admission and is open 364 days a year. In 2021, with 7 ...

and eventually led to his employment at the Smithsonian Institution. In 1973 Ubelaker received his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas; he is also board certified in forensic anthropology by the

American Board of Forensic Anthropology American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

. He then returned to Washington to work in the position formerly held by T. Dale Stewart at the National Museum of Natural History. He also teaches a forensic anthropology course at

The George Washington University , mottoeng = "God is Our Trust" , established = , type = Private federally chartered research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.8 billion (2022) , preside ...

References

External links

Smithsonian Institution Anthropology Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ubelaker, Douglas 1946 births Living people University of Kansas alumni American anthropologists Forensic anthropologists People from Horton, Kansas