A lack of available online osteological materials led to an increase in the digitization of skeletal specimens during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. These resources were regularly shared across social media platforms, blogs, and teaching and anthropology forums among educators. We have compiled these resources in a single website in order to aid in the availability and access to these materials for researchers, students, and educators.
Although these resources are invaluable, there is room for improvement and we hope this will be the starting point for a more comprehensive website which will act as a repository for digital skeletal materials. A single repository will allow for a easier and better access, standardized metadata (demographic and pathological information, copyright permissions, descendant consultants etc.), a comprehensive and unified bioethics policy, and a searchable site which can simplify the process for finding materials. Further, we aim to improve the use of digital materials by including applicable bibliographic reference lists of research that have utilized the collections to reduce the unintentional duplication of research efforts.
Finally, we are also considering ways to reduce the unintentional access by commercial entities which may choose to profit from these materials by employing a review process that requires authentication before access (e.g., institutional affiliation or project/use description, etc.). Since we are still in the design phase of this repository, we are actively seeking feedback from anyone who wishes to contribute to the formation of such a database. Please feel free to reach out to us here.
Skeletal Collection Index 