James T. Pokines, PhD

Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

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.

Publications

  • Published 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 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 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 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 3/1/2023

    Pokines J.T. Thesis projects in forensic taphonomy. 2023; 2(6):99-116.

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