Forensic Anthropology
Jobs of a Forensic Anthropologist Determine human vs. inhuman remains Determine if the remains belong to more than one person/many individuals Identify individuals Approximate time of death Determine age, gender, race Determine COD Determine manner of death Determine any bone pathologies
Determining Age Babies are born with 450 bones while adults have 206 Bones fuse together (forming sutures) and suture lines disappear with age (fully harden around 30) Skeletal growth in children is very predictable. Growth plates made of cartilage appear in children around age 6; it is eventually replaced by bone tissue Heads of long bones (epiphysis) fuse with the shaft (diaphysis) at different times for each bone Head of femur fuses between ages 18-20
Determining Age Tooth eruption-baby teeth (milk teeth) tend to be lost by age 12 Wisdom teeth eruption-usually occurs by age 18 Older skeletons may have worn teeth (also dependent on diet), signs of arthritis or osteoporosis
Ancient vs. Recent bones Ancient bones will be possible fossilized or mineralized (the degree of fossilization or mineralization will help tell the age) More recent bones can be Carbon dated to estimate age
Determining Sex Generally, males have a more square-shaped chin, more prominent forehead protuberance, and more prominent boney markings (those especially on femur)
Determining Sex Some of the more notable differences are between male and female pelvises Female pubic arch is more than 90 degrees, males less than 90 degrees Females have a larger inlet (hole) Females have a wider true and false pelvis Female sacrum is less curved than a males Female sciatic notch is greater than 68 degrees, males less than 68 degrees
Determining Race Three major anthropological racial groups based on observable skeletal features: Caucasoid: European, Middle Eastern and East Indian descent Negroid: African, Aborigine and Melanesian descent Mongoloids: Asian, Native American and Polynesian descent
Caucasoid skulls will exhibit a narrower face with high bridged nasal bones, sloped eye sockets, prominent chin and fairly flat cheek bones
Mongoloid skulls will have a broader face with squarer, forward sloping, wing-like cheek bones; rounded eye sockets, larger nasal opening and lower nasal bones
Negroid skulls will have a broader nose bridge and wide nasal openings; more rectangular eye sockets and outward sloping jaws (prominent chin)
Determining Stature Height can be estimated by using lengths of long bones (in cm) Different calculations for males/females Females: H=femur x 2.21+61.41 H=tibia x 2.53 + 72.57 H=humerus x 3.14 + 64.97 H=radius x 3.87 + 73.50
Determining Stature Males: H=femur x 2.23 + 69.08 H=tibia x 2.39 + 81.68 H=humerus x 2.97 + 73.57 H=radius x 3.65 + 80.40
Identify Remains Medical history may show past surgeries/broken bones DNA taken from bone tissue can be used to correlate with family members
Determine COD Bones are analyzed for sharp force trauma and blunt force trauma to possible infer a COD for victim Also analyzed for antemortem vs postmortem fractures