Skeletons in the closet: Maropeng Murder Mystery
Join forensic anthropology expert Dr Patrick Randolph-Quinney and Maropeng’s Bone Detective, Brendon Billings, for an evening of murder, mystery and forensic anthropology at Maropeng this August.
Brought to you by Maropeng and the forensic anthropology and archaeology division of the Human Identification Unit at Wits University’s School of Anatomical Science, the Maropeng Murder Mystery evening promises to be a thrilling and insightful introduction for anyone with an interest in forensics, anthropology and the human body.
What is the murder mystery evening all about?
On 1 January 2014, members of the South African Police Service Special Investigations Unit were called to a disused mine in the North West province.
While surveying the mine, a group of mining engineers made an eerie discovery: bones buried deep underground.
After unearthing the remains and examining the burial site, police requested the assistance of forensic anthropologists.
The examination will take place at CSI: Maropeng.
Your role at CSI: Maropeng
It is your job to identify the skeletal remains, give them a name, and help bring the perpetrators to justice.
Assisted by specialists in forensic anthropology and skeletal biology, you will undertake analyses of biological and personal identity, and skeletal trauma.
Working with specialists you will learn how to assess identity from the skeleton, and how to analyse the effects of inter-personal violence on bone, helping to understand how they may have met their death.
Meet the mystery-buster team
Dr Randolph-Quinney is a senior lecturer at Wits University’s School of Anatomical Sciences.
He is an experienced researcher and fieldworker with interests in the application of biological anthropology across differing historical timescales.
He has over 20 years’ archaeological field experience in the recovery, identification and analysis of human skeletal remains and archaeological faunas.
He is an experienced forensic caseworker in areas of forensic human identification and forensic anthropology, human/non-human bone identification, forensic cremain analysis, and forensic archaeology and body recovery – including archaeological search strategies for discovery and recovery of clandestine burials, and recovery from fatal fires.
Brendon Billings is a faculty member and curator at Wits University’s School of Anatomical Sciences and is Maropeng’s resident “Bone Detective”.
Thirty-one-year-old Billings has completed his MSc in the history of science at Wits and is currently doing a PhD in comparative neuroscience.
Prior to that, among his many accolades and awards were a BSc Honours in human biology, a staff bursary for Wits University Medical School, and funding in 2010 for the refurbishment of the Raymond Dart Human Skeletal Collection.
He was also nominated as a member of the prestigious Council for the Royal Society South Africa.
Event details
Date: 30 August 2014
Time: Debriefing starts at 4pm for 4.30pm in the reception nave at the Maropeng Tumulus Building
Cost: R425 per person, max. 40 people. Please not that this event is strictly for adults only.
The event includes the presentation and CSI investigation, a buffet dinner at Maropeng’s Tumulus Restaurant, as well as welcome drinks upon arrival and a few surprise extras.
Bring your best CSI impression and dress to impress.