James T. Pokines, PhD
Associate Professor, Anatomy & Neurobiology
Biography
James T. Pokines, Ph.D., D.-.A.B.F.A., is an Associate Professor in the Forensic Anthropology Program, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. He is also the Forensic Anthropologist for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and analyzes all unknown bone cases in that state. His prior experience includes twelve years as a Forensic Anthropologist and Manager at the Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii, recovering and analyzing the remains of missing servicemembers from past conflicts.
His field experience includes excavations in 18 countries, including modern forensic scenes in multiple countries, Tiwanaku sites in Bolivia, a Classical site in Egypt, modern scavenger dens in Kenya, and Paleolithic sites in Spain, France, and Jordan. He has ongoing research in the latter country, including the natural faunal trap site Wadi Zarqa Ma’in 1 and multiple Paleolithic sites in the Azraq basin, His taphonomic interests include scavenger gnawing and dispersal, subaerial weathering, and other environmental effects to bone, and he also researches zooarchaeology, paleoecology, and Paleolithic archaeology. He received his B.A. degree in Anthropology and Archaeology at Cornell University and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Anthropology from the University of Chicago and is a former Vice President of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and a current Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
Other Positions
- Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences
Education
- University of Chicago, PhD
- University of Chicago, MA
- Cornell University, BA
Publications
- Published on 2/10/2025
Pokines JT, Mainville A. Skeletal recovery rates in a New England environment. J Forensic Sci. 2025 Mar; 70(2):669-683. PMID: 39925183.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 7/29/2024
Pokines, J.T. The Madaba Archaeological Park Excavations (1992-1996), ed. by R. Schick and L. Erker. The faunal remains. American Center of Research. Amman. 2024; 290-303.
- Published on 5/1/2024
Fey, S. J., T. L. Moore, G. Reinecke, and J. T. Pokines . The effects of household corrosive substances on the dissolution of complete pig (Sus scrofa) carcasses. Forensic Anthropology. 2024.
Read at: Custom - Published on 3/1/2024
Blain, H.-A., C. Sánchez-Bandera, J. F. Bisbal-Chinesta, M. Menschel, and J. T. Pokines . Herpetological remains from the lower Magdalenian site of El Juyo (Cantabria, Spain): The challenge of reconstructing climate and landscape from poorly diverse assemblages. Historical Biology. 2024; 2(36):309-330.
Read at: Custom - Published on 3/1/2023
Pokines J.T. Thesis projects in forensic taphonomy. 2023; 2(6):99-116.
- Published on 8/11/2022
Hill MA, Pokines JT. Comparative analysis of fetal pig decomposition processes in burials of variable depths and wrapping. J Forensic Sci. 2022 Nov; 67(6):2192-2202. PMID: 35957506.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 6/1/2022
Pokines, J. T., J. A. Beller, A. S. A. al-Souliman, O. Samawi, C. J. H. Ames, C. E. Cordova, and A. Nowell . Radiometric dating of Wadi Zarqa Ma’in 1, a limestone sinkhole natural faunal trap near the Dead Sea, using data from test pitting and a portable coring system. Near Eastern Archaeology. 2022; 3(85):192-199.
- Published on 6/1/2022
Pokines, J. T., and A. Blanton. Experimental formation of coffin wear on bone. Forensic Anthropology. 2022; 4(5):267-275.
- Published on 1/25/2022
Pokines JT. Preliminary study of gull (Laridae) scavenging and dispersal of vertebrate remains, Shoals Marine Laboratory, Coastal New England. J Forensic Sci. 2022 May; 67(3):1149-1156. PMID: 35076105.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 1/1/2022
Pokines, J. T., E. N. L’Abbé, and S. A. Symes, eds. Manual of Forensic Taphonomy. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL. 2022.
View 98 more publications: View full profile at BUMC