Forensic Anthropology

1. Forensic Anthropology

2. What is Anthropology and Forensic Anthropology? • Anthropology: The cultural and physical study of humans across all geographical areas over time

3. Forensic Anthropology • Forensic Anthropology: the application of anthropology to legal matters

4. What Does a Forensic Anthropologist Do? • Forensic anthropologists research and apply techniques to determine the age at death, gender, race, stature, abnormalities and “quirks” ofskeletal remains

5. The Process • Forensic Anthropologists take an “inventory” of all bones present • When inventory is taken, specific bone names are used. • For Ex.: NOT cranium ; left parietal

7. 3. After inventory is complete, conclusions are made in regards to age, gender, size/stature, time of death, and method of death

8. What Differences Do Forensic Anthropologists Look For to Identify Gender? • Size and shape of bone structures are used in determining the gender and sometimes race of the skeleton

11. What Differences Do Forensic Anthropologists Look For to Identify Age? • The best tool for identifying the age of a younger person is looking at the teeth and the jaw(when possible) • Looking at sutures are also helpful • Sutures: zigzag seams where the bones of the skull meet

13. What Differences Do Forensic Anthropologists Look For to Identify Stature? • Stature or build is determined by using an equation involving the measurements of “long bones” • Long bones include: humeri, ulnae, tibias and fibulae, and femurs

14. An osteometric board is used to determine weight • This can also be used in race determination

15. Weight: Lighter people typically have narrower bones • Race: People of African descent have more dense bones than those of European descent

16. Estimating Time of Death • Many factors come into play when determining TOD as well as the condition of the bones including rate of decay, weather, animal scattering, and if the body is buried or not

17. Types of fabrics may also help in determining TOD

18. If buried: body will be completely skeletalized in 1-2 years (may become mummified in dry regions) • If on the surface: Completely skeletalized within 8 months

19. TOD estimates based on environmental factors are from research in Tennessee as follows: 3 weeks -- articulated bones5 weeks -- some scatter, some articulated4 months -- disarticulated, within 10' circle7 to 8 months -- most bones w/in 10' circle and all w/in 20'1 year -- small bones missing, complete disarticulation2 to 4 years -- some bones broken, scattered 40', some large bones missing12+ years -- bone rot; partial burial*15 to 20 years -- no surface evidence* partial burial from leaves, storms, erosion from shallow burial

20. Determining Manner of Death • 5 Possible Manners of Death: Homicide, suicide, accidental, natural and unknown • Use of x-rays help to determine if an injury was old and healed or if it lead to/was a part of death • Old injuries will show signs of healing • Metal objects, such as lead from bullets, will show up as bright white on x-rays

21. Other Characteristics • Righty or Lefty/Hand dominance • Runner or other kind of athlete • Bone diseases • And many more!

22. Videos • Dr. Tanya Peckmann: Forensic Anthropologist – YouTube • Power of the Bones - YouTube