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Forensic anthropology is the study of human skeletal remains in order to determine information such as sex, age, ancestry, stature, trauma, and pathologies. This overview provides an introduction to the field and its various subdisciplines. It also explains how dental analysis plays a crucial role in forensic identification.
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CHE 113 FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGYA Very Brief Overview
Forensic AnthropologyBrief Overview • Defined as “the field of study that deals with the analysis of human skeletal remains resulting from unexplained deaths.” • Often done in a legal context • An applied science • Five subdisciplines: • 1. Biological, or physical anthropology • 2. Archaeology • 3. Cultural anthropology • 4. Linguistics • 5. Applied anthropology
Forensic Anthropology Goal: Biological Profile Includes: 1. General Description 2. Sex of decedent 3. Age of decedent 4. Ancestry of decedent 5. Stature of decedent 6. Assessment of trauma (ante-, peri-, post mortem) 7. Pathologies noted
Osteology: study of skeletal remains Each bone studied INDIVIDUALLY 206 Skeletal Bones (total)
Osteology: study of skeletal remains Each bone studied INDIVIDUALLY
Osteology Human bone –vs- Animal bone Macroscopic differences Radiology Observation Measurement Microscopic differences
Macroscopic differences Baboon femur Human femur
Microscopic differences human Spongy bone mouse
Osteology Radiographs
Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent Skull Hip bone Femur
Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html
Information from skeletal remainsSex of decedent MALE OR FEMALE SKELETON? (a) IS FEMALE and (b) IS MALE Handout
Information from skeletal remainsSex of decedent Male MALE OR FEMALE SKELETON? (a) IS FEMALE and (b) IS MALE Female
Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html
What can we learn from skeletons? Age at Death Hip bone most useful for adults Estimate given as a range (30 – 35 yrs old) Teeth: Erupted or Not? Epiphyses: fused or unfused? Auricular surface Pubic symphysis
Age at Death http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html
Age at Death http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html
Odontology – Forensic Dentistry Teeth also studied Deciduous –vs- Permanent
Forensic Dentistry • At the scene of the crime, odontologists collect the skull or remaining teeth, which are taken back to the forensic laboratory for the postmortem dental investigation. X-rays are taken and if the jaw is completely intact and the dental records used to compare are recent, the job of proving a match is a relatively simple one. Dentists mark on a chart the position of missing teeth, crowns, bridges, fillings, caps, root canals and various other treatments during a patient's routine check-up. The task of identifying a victim is made more difficult when the dentist records and x-rays are out of date or when the skull is severely damagedand has parts missing.
Age at Death http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html
Use of Forensic Dentistry Forensic odontologists or in other words, forensic dentists, have the job of examining dental evidence that is left behind after a crime has been committed. Teeth are an excellent source of identification, as they hard wearing and durable. With the ability to survive fires that destroy evidence, burn human bones to ashes and melt copper and glass, teeth are able to withstand criminal's attempts to hide the crimesthey've committed and the evidence held within the crime scene and dental analysis provides a cost efficient alternative to solving a crime.
Epiphyses - A part of bone separated from the main body of the bone by a layer of cartilage and subsequently uniting with the bone through further ossification Unfused = juvenile Fused = adult
More info from skeletal remains ANCESTRY of decedent Difficult determination to make Facial bones most important Nasal aperture Teeth Interorbital space Mandible
Stature estimate Measure long bone(s) available Plug in value to formula Range established for stature of decedent 5’ 2” – 5’ 5”
Other information TRAUMA and PATHOLOGIES Ante- mortem Post-mortem Peri-mortem Gunshot
Individual Identification Person identified when it was found that the amalgam used in her dental restorations was of a type found only in specific areas on the Eastern Coast of the United States. Habitual activity can wear away the protective, cartilagenous lining which reduces friction in joints. The humerus in this photograph were in contact for many years prior to this individual's death. The surfaces are smooth and shiny, indicating that the joint capsule and cartilage had worn away, allowing bone on bone contact in the cavity. http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html
Individual Identification Dental implants, braces, and other types of dental work are often recovered with a body and are extremely useful in identification because they are so unique to the individual and are well detailed in antemortem radiographs and medical records. Healed fracture on the sternal end of a midthoracic rib. The area within the red brackets is the site of injury. Note the more porous appearance of the bone in this area - this is woven bone. http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html
Case Study From Prof. Ann Bunch SUNY Oswego September 1999 Tourist Aircraft Crash on the Big Island of Hawaii
Big Island Aircraft Crash Piper Aircraft with 9 passengers, 1 pilot
Big Island Aircraft Crash Aircraft’s path prior to crash & location of crash
Big Island Aircraft Crash NTSB determination of cause = pilot error
Big Island Aircraft Crash Document remains present
Big Island Aircraft Crash X-ray all remains/ Possible remains
Big Island Aircraft Crash Personal effects and identification
Big Island Aircraft Crash Identification “by exclusion” Osteoarthritis
Big Island Aircraft Crash Sorting out commingling
Other Types of Evidence Wreckage fragments Wreckage in situ
