forensic anthropology forensic anthropology

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ForensicAnthropologyForensicAnthropology

Age Determination Sex Determination Number of Individuals

Age Determination Sex Determination Number of Individuals

Cause of Death Individual Identification Disease Processes

Cause of Death Individual Identification Disease Processes

Forensic Analysis Team

What Can Be Identified ??What Can Be Identified ??

N Minimum number of individualsN Sex [not gender]N Approximate ageN “Race”N Approximate statureN ComminglingN Skeletal injuryN Cause of deathN Time since death

N Human or not

Steps in IdentificationSteps in Identification

N Anatomical arrangement

N Examination & description

N Correlation w/missingpersons

N Re-examination

N Correlation w/ putativedead

Separation TechniquesSeparation Techniques

N Positive articulation

N Ultraviolet light

N Blood groupings

N Trace analysis

N Coloration & markings

N DNA analysis

N Associated documents

Human ??Human ??

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Ante- or Post-mortem Damage ?Ante- or Post-mortem Damage ? Age DeterminationAge Determination

N Dental eruptionN Bone size & maturity

N Epiphyseal closureN Third molar rootN Sacral segmentsN Pubic symphysis

N Cranial suturesN Sternal rib end changesN Peri-auricular margins

Age DeterminationAge Determination

N developmentN eruptionN wearN loss


Age DeterminationAge Determination Age DeterminationAge Determination

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N Todd

N McKern-Stewart

N Suchey-Brooks


N Growth hormonedeficiency

N Not achondroplasia(dwarfism)

N Sternal rib endchanges

N Wide age ranges

N Often difficult toscore


N Relatively inaccurate


Kereley’s Osteon MethodKereley’s Osteon Method

Sex DeterminationSex DeterminationN Humeral head diameter

N Deltoid tub. robusticity

N Gonial eversion

N Genial tubercle robust.

N Mental eminenceN Nuchal crest

N Browridge

N Mastoid process size

N Canine root length

N Ossified thyroid cartilage

N Temporal line

N Sciatic notch width

N Symphyseal block

N Ischio-pubic index

N Preauricular sulcus

N Auricular surf. elevationN Femoral head diameter

N Bicondylar breadth

N Linea aspera robusticity

N Sacrum curvature

N Epicondylar breadth

N Ala-promotory ratioN Based on the principle of

sexual dimorphism

N In general, males aremore robust

MaleMaleFemaleFemale

FemaleFemaleMaleMale

Sex DeterminationSex Determination

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MaleMale FemaleFemale

Sex DeterminationSex Determination Sex DeterminationSex Determination




Ridge on sub-pubic angle

Sub-pubicconcavity

Ventralarc



MaleMale

FemaleFemaleN Shape of symphyseal blockN Ascending ramus widthN Acetabulum size



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N Elevation of theauricular surfacearound its entiremargin

MaleMale

FemaleFemale

N Non-elevated = male

N Elevated = female




N Curvature ofthe sacral body

N Ala vs.promatorywidth

N Generalbreadth


Male

Female

N Nasal aperture shape

N Lower nasal border

N Nasal bridge height

N Orbital shape

N Malar widthN Dental arch

N Tooth form

N Prognathism

N Femur-Tibia ratio

N Humerus-Ulna ratio

N Anterior femoral bowing

Race DeterminationRace Determination

… such analysis is based onthe premise that race is abiological reality. By NOmeans a ‘given.’

…… such analysis is based onthe premise that race is abiological reality. By NOmeans a ‘given.’


Anterior ViewAnterior View


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C

N

M

Side ViewSide View


M N C

Race ???Race ???

Shovel ShapedIncisors

Shovel ShapedIncisors

Individual IdentificationIndividual Identification

Individual IdentificationIndividual Identification Kennewick ManKennewick Man

N ~9,000 year old find

N Caucasian ???

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Kennewick ManKennewick Man

You be the judge….

N Mastoid air cell pattern

N Compare to xrays

N Warren commission



handedness

Applied AnthropologyApplied Anthropology

N Identify missing persons

N Provides closure

N Helps in criminal prosecution

N Provides information forinsurance claims

N MIAs, war dead

N Expert witness

N Mass disasters

Applied AnthropologyApplied Anthropology

N Human rightsN Mass gravesN Very difficult

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