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” of skeletal 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

10. Male
Female
General size
Large
Small
Architecture
Rugged
Smooth
Supraorbital margin
Rounded
Sharp
Mastoid process
Occipital bone
Muscle lines and protuberance marked
Muscle lines not marked
Glabella
Bony
Flat
Gonial Angle
Squared
Wide angle
Palate
Larger, broader, tends to be U-shaped
Small, tends to be a parabola
Occipital condyles

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
Material
Length of Time in Good Condition (in months)
Rayon
1-2 if buried
5 on surface
Paper
1 in alk or fresh water
5 on surface/in acid*
Cotton/Wool
6 in alk or fresh water
10 to 15 on surface/in acid
Human Hair
10 to 15 if buried
wind blows it away on surface
Cotton/Poly
15 on surface
25 to 35 if buried
Other Plastics/Leather
15 to 35 on surface
>48 if buried

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 bones 5 weeks -- some scatter, some articulated 4 months -- disarticulated, within 10' circle 7 to 8 months -- most bones w/in 10' circle and all w/in 20' 1 year -- small bones missing, complete disarticulation 2 to 4 years -- some bones broken, scattered 40', some large bones missing 12+ 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