Stanley Serafin

Dr. Stanley Serafin is a Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales, affiliated with the School of Biomedical Sciences. His research integrates osteological, archaeological, and biogeochemical data to study ancient Maya populations in Yucatan, Tabasco, and Chiapas, Mexico, with a focus on mortuary practices, body modification, diet, health, and sociopolitical collapse.

His recent work includes analyzing drought-induced civil conflict in Postclassic Maya cities, social identity through dental modification, and violence dynamics in inland Yucatan. He examines how skeletal remains reflect ritual practices, such as human sacrifice in Mayapán’s Cenote Sagrado and urban collapse tied to internal strife.

Dr. Serafin’s publications span biological anthropology, Maya archaeology, and forensic analysis. Key trends include studying cranial trauma patterns, projectile injuries, and the interplay between climate change and societal instability in ancient Mesoamerica.

He teaches anatomy courses like ANAT2521 Biological Anthropology and ANAT2451 Functional Anatomy, emphasizing evolutionary origins and clinical implications of human anatomy through hands-on learning with fossil casts and digital resources.