My interest, Biological Anthropology, began during my Undergrad at Simon Fraser University in the Department of Archaeology. In 2005 I began working for that department as a technician and research assistant in the Archaeology Laboratories documenting ancestral remains for repatriation to the Haida, Nicomen, and Tsawwassen Nations. These endeavours nurtured a passion for radiography and digital imaging, and I was fortunate to explore these interests further in 2010 as a technician at the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility operating high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) and micro-computed tomography (μCT) scanners for biomedical research. I was also introduced to 3D scanning technology, which inspired a master’s research project investigating sex-based shape differences in the human coxal (hip) bone. I took this research project to the University of Victoria and later to UBC as my PhD research in landmark analysis, where I developed a new method of determining skeletal sex that is over 99% accurate.

I am also an archaeologist. I have worked in consulting archaeology in the lower mainland, with and on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Twawwassen, Tsleil Waututh, Katzie, Semiamoo, Squamish, and Kwikwetlem Nations. I have also worked along the upper Fraser River with and on the traditional territories of the Spuzzum, Boston Bar, and Yale Nations.

Research Interests

Quantitative methods, lifeways, sex and gender, race, forensic anthropology, human osteology, repatriation, archaeology

Refereed PUBLICATIONS

Robertson, H.I., Pokotylo, D, and Weston D.A. (2019). Testing landmark redundancy and effective sex-based shape discrimination in the adult human os coxa. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 169, 689-703.

Robertson, H. (2018). Decolonizing bioarchaeology: an autoethnographic reflection. New Proposals: Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry, 9(2):20-34.

NON-REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

RESEARCH REPORTS

Robertson, H.I. (2021). Douglas College Repatriation Report. Report prepared for Douglas College, Department of Anthropology.

Robertson, H.I. (2014). Osteological Assessment of Ancestry of Undocumented Mandibles. Report prepared for the Museum of Vancouver.

BOOK REVIEWS

Robertson, H.I. (2007). Review of the body as material culture: A Theoretical Osteoarchaeology, by Joanna R. Sofaer. Canadian Journal of Archaeology, 31(1): 140-142.

PRESENTATIONS

Robertson HI.  (2019). Finding true sex differences within the haystack of individual and group coxal bone variation: A lesson in landmark validation.  Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology Conference. Banff, AB.

Robertson HI.  (2018).  Decolonizing Bioarchaeology.  UBC Archaeology Day.  Vancouver, BC.

Robertson HI.  (2018).  Best landmarks for sex-based shape.  Amplified: Voices, Landscapes, and Belongings, UBC Anthropology Poster Conference. Vancouver, BC.

Robertson HI.  (2016).  Patterns of sex-based shape in the human hipbone among non-metric traits categorized on a 5-point scale.  American Association of Physical Anthropologists conference.  Atlanta, Georgia.

Robertson HI.  (2014).  A correlation between non-metric sex traits and hip bone shape. American Association of Physical Anthropologists conference.  Calgary AB.

Robertson HI.  (2014).  A geometric morphometric study of sex-based shape differences in the human hip bone.  UBC Anthropology Research Open House.  Vancouver BC.

Robertson HI.  (2013).  What is Geometric Morphometrics? UBC Anthropology Graduate Student Association Talks.  Vancouver, BC.

Robertson H.  (2009).  The feasibility of HR-pQCT for imaging and analysis of archaeological human bone.  Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology.  Vancouver, BC.

Zhang HG, Edinborough K, Fonseca S, Goldberg P, Mathewes R, Northey D, Robertson H, Skinner M, Speller C, Yang D.  (2009).  Origin of a suspected ‘trophy skull’ with dried soft tissue: multidisciplinary input.  Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology conference.  Vancouver, BC.

UBC Four Year Fellowships (FYF) For PhD Students, 2014

UBC Faculty of Arts Graduate Award, 2013

Anthropological Archaeology

B.A. Archaeology, Simon Fraser University,  2004
Major: Archaeology, Minor: Criminology

M.A. Anthropology, University of Victoria, 2013
Master’s thesis title: “A Geometric Morphometric Approach to Sex Estimation”
Supervisor: Dr. Helen Kurki

PhD Supervisor: Dr Darlene Weston