Field Notes from the Dead

Ki Roberts

Bones tell stories. Trauma leaves a record. Folklore teaches us what humans fear and what we’ve survived. I’m Ki Roberts, a forensic anthropology student and dark-academia storyteller exploring the strange, scientific, and sometimes haunting intersections between death, history, trauma, and meaning. Join me for candlelit deep-dives into skeletal mysteries, weird anthropology, ancient violence, ghost lore, and the forensic truths buried beneath sensational myths. Field Notes from the Dead is where science meets storytelling and where the past refuses to stay silent.

  1. When the Dead Speak: Memory, Forensic Anthropology, and Why Bearing Witness Still Matters

    Jan 19

    When the Dead Speak: Memory, Forensic Anthropology, and Why Bearing Witness Still Matters

    This episode discusses disappearance, historical violence, and grief in a non-graphic but emotionally heavy context. Please take care of yourself while listening.Welcome to Field Notes from the Dead, a podcast exploring forensic anthropology, archaeology, and the human stories that shape how we understand death, memory, and dignity. In this episode, Ki Roberts examines the real-world origins of forensic anthropology through the history of the desaparecidos in South America, the Madres de Plaza de Mayo, and the emergence of forensic missions dedicated to truth and identification. This episode explores: • Disappearance as a historical and social reality • How families preserved memory when systems failed • The ethical responsibilities of forensic anthropologists • Why identification matters to the living • Why this work still matters in modern missing persons cases This is a trauma-informed, educational episode grounded in history and ethics, designed for curious learners, students, writers, and anyone interested in the human side of science. Resources & Support: If this episode brought up difficult feelings, support is available. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for emotional support. Additional resources: • RAINN — rainn.org • National Domestic Violence Hotline — thehotline.org • StrongHearts Native Helpline — strongheartshelpline.org • NamUs (Missing Persons) — namus.nij.ojp.gov Learn more: • EAAF — eaaf.org • Amnesty International — amnesty.org • Human Rights Watch — hrw.org forensic anthropology desaparecidos history madres de plaza de mayo human rights anthropology memory studies forensic science and justice ethical true crime anthropology podcast forensic archaeology history of forensic science trauma-informed storytelling missing persons history field notes from the dead anthropology documentary death and memory

    17 min

About

Bones tell stories. Trauma leaves a record. Folklore teaches us what humans fear and what we’ve survived. I’m Ki Roberts, a forensic anthropology student and dark-academia storyteller exploring the strange, scientific, and sometimes haunting intersections between death, history, trauma, and meaning. Join me for candlelit deep-dives into skeletal mysteries, weird anthropology, ancient violence, ghost lore, and the forensic truths buried beneath sensational myths. Field Notes from the Dead is where science meets storytelling and where the past refuses to stay silent.