FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY A Very Brief Overview CHE 113 FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY A Very Brief Overview Tonight I will talk about FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY. We will discuss what it is, and what forensic anthropologists do, as well as what kind of background a forensic anthropologist has, in general.

Forensic Anthropology Brief 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 Here is the definition of FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY. This is work that has a legal application oftentimes (although in military cases it does not usually). It is an applied science, since it is putting to use techniques and methods used by physical/biological anthropologists in a “real world” context.

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) Forensic anthropologists are applied biological anthropologists that use their skills in OSTEOLOGY regularly. Osteology is the study of skeletal remains. Each bone is studied individually as you can see in this example here of the human skull.

Osteology: study of skeletal remains Each bone studied INDIVIDUALLY Forensic anthropologists are applied biological anthropologists that use their skills in OSTEOLOGY regularly. Osteology is the study of skeletal remains. Each bone is studied individually as you can see in this example here of the human skull.

Osteology Human bone –vs- Animal bone Macroscopic differences Radiology Observation Measurement Microscopic differences Knowing your osteology helps because you can be faced with cases where you have to first sort out if the bone of interest is indeed HUMAN or NOT. You can use macroscopic techniques (comparative collections, manuals, your memory) and microscopic techniques (structure differences – lamellae).

Osteology

Osteology

Macroscopic differences Example here of macroscopic differences between a baboon femur and a human femur (thigh bone). Baboon femur Human femur

Microscopic differences human Spongy bone mouse

Osteology Radiographs X-rays are also frequently used by forensic anthropologists – for ID purposes as well as sorting out commingled remains, or determining if any material contains bone or bony material.

Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent The SEX of the individual can often be addressed via the use of the skeleton. Must have SKULL or HIP BONE to be certain though. Skull Hip bone Femur

Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent The SEX of the individual can often be addressed via the use of the skeleton. Must have SKULL or HIP BONE to be certain though. http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html

Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent MALE OR FEMALE SKELETON? (a) IS FEMALE and (b) IS MALE The SEX of the individual can often be addressed via the use of the skeleton. Must have SKULL or HIP BONE to be certain though. Handout

Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent Male MALE OR FEMALE SKELETON? (a) IS FEMALE and (b) IS MALE The SEX of the individual can often be addressed via the use of the skeleton. Must have SKULL or HIP BONE to be certain though. Female

Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent The SEX of the individual can often be addressed via the use of the skeleton. Must have SKULL or HIP BONE to be certain though. 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? What can we learn from the skeleton? LOTS! Biological profile is the GOAL. One part of the biol profile -- AGE Auricular surface Pubic symphysis

Age at Death Long Bone Development

Age at Death http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html What can we learn from the skeleton? LOTS! Biological profile is the GOAL. One part of the biol profile -- AGE http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html

Age at Death http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html What can we learn from the skeleton? LOTS! Biological profile is the GOAL. One part of the biol profile -- AGE http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html

Odontology – Forensic Dentistry Teeth also studied Deciduous –vs- Permanent Teeth are also important and recovered oftentimes – often a forensic odontologist will work with these to make identifications. But many forensic anthros are well-versed in dental remains!

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 damaged and has parts missing.

Age at Death http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html What can we learn from the skeleton? LOTS! Biological profile is the GOAL. One part of the biol profile -- AGE 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 crimes they've committed and the evidence held within the crime scene and dental analysis provides a cost efficient alternative to solving a crime.

Ted Bundy’s Teeth

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 Epiphyseal fusion can answer questions about age. Unfused = juvenile Fused = adult

Spine

More info from skeletal remains ANCESTRY of decedent Difficult determination to make Facial bones most important Nasal aperture ANCESTRY – must have the skull to discuss this. This is the most difficult thing to determine from the skeleton. 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 Trauma and pathologies – additionally important. Esp to ME and police – they often like to know the cause of death – bones can sometimes tell you this. Gunshot

Trauma

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 Another context where forensic anthros work as consultants – mass disasters. 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

Big Island Aircraft Crash

Big Island Aircraft Crash Document remains present

Big Island Aircraft Crash X-ray all remains/ Possible remains

Big Island Aircraft Crash

Big Island Aircraft Crash Personal effects and identification

Big Island Aircraft Crash Identification “by exclusion” Osteoarthritis

Big Island Aircraft Crash

Big Island Aircraft Crash Sorting out commingling

Other Types of Evidence Wreckage fragments Wreckage in situ

Race Determination Activity

Human male european

Mongoloid

A – Female Mongoloid (Mexico), B – Female Mongoloid (Yucatan Peninsula)

African American Male