Areas of interest
Biological anthropology, cemetery management, forensic anthropology, human natural mummification, human taphonomy, osteology, postmortem interval estimation
Education
- PhD in Forensic Anthropology (University of Coimbra, Portugal)
- MSc in Human Evolution and Biology (University of Coimbra, Portugal)
- BSc in Biology (University of Porto, Portugal)
Research
PhD research: “How to stop time: Shedding light on spontaneous mummification while developing a method for postmortem interval estimation on mummified bodies”
MSc research: “Geometric morphometrics and ancestry: Estimation in individuals from the 21st Century Identified Skeleton Collection (University of Coimbra)”
Other Activities
Hiking, reading, rock climbing and surfing
Publications
Silva-Bessa, A., A. Madureira-Carvalho, R.M.S Azevedo, L. Dawson, R.J. Dinis-Oliveira, S.L.Forbes, M.T. Ferreira. 2023. A soil-based approach on human taphonomy from five Portuguese public cemeteries. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences. DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2023.2289378.
Silva-Bessa, A., M.T. Ferreira, R.J. Dinis-Oliveira. 2023. Among bodies: Portuguese cemeterial exhumations three years after a pandemic. Forensic Sciences 3(2), 293-301. DOI: 10.3390/forensicsci3020022.
Queirós, S.S., B.v.d. Lühe, A. Silva-Bessa, A.M. Brito-da-Costa, I.M. Caldas, L. Dawson, A. Madureira-Carvalho. 2023. Lipidic compounds found in soils surrounding human decomposing bodies and its use in forensic investigations - A narrative review. Science & Justice 63, 303-312. DOI: 10.2174/2589977514666220914084543.
Silva-Bessa, A., Á. Madureira-Carvalho, L. Dawson, M.T. Ferreira, M.T., R.J. Dinis-Oliveira, S.L. Forbes. 2022. The importance of soil on human taphonomy and management of Portuguese public cemeteries. Forensic Sciences 2(4), 635-649. DOI:10.3390/forensicsci2040047.
Silva-Bessa, A. 2020. Forensic anthropology: Theoretical framework and scientific basis. Antropologia Portuguesa 37(37), 179-181. DOI: 10.14195/2182-7982_37_8.