CHE FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY A Very Brief Overview CHE 113

CHE 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

CHE 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

CHE Osteology: study of skeletal remains Each bone studied INDIVIDUALLY 206 Skeletal Bones (total)

CHE Osteology: study of skeletal remains Each bone studied INDIVIDUALLY

CHE Osteology Human bone –vs- Animal bone Macroscopic differences Radiology Observation Measurement Microscopic differences

CHE Osteology

CHE Osteology

CHE Macroscopic differences Baboon femurHuman femur

CHE Microscopic differences Spongy bone human mouse

CHE Osteology Radiographs

CHE Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent Hip boneFemur Skull

CHE Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent

CHE Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent MALE OR FEMALE SKELETON? (a) IS FEMALE and (b) IS MALE Handout

CHE Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent MALE OR FEMALE SKELETON? (a) IS FEMALE and (b) IS MALE Male Female

CHE Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent

CHE What can we learn from skeletons? Age at Death Hip bone most useful for adults Teeth: Erupted or Not? Estimate given as a range (30 – 35 yrs old) Epiphyses: fused or unfused? Pubic symphysis Auricular surface

CHE Age at Death Long Bone Development

CHE Age at Death

CHE Age at Death

CHE Odontology – Forensic Dentistry Teeth also studied Deciduous –vs- Permanent

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. CHE

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CHE Age at Death

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. CHE

Ted Bundy’s Teeth CHE

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CHE 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 Unfused = juvenile Fused = adult

CHE Spine

CHE More info from skeletal remains ANCESTRY of decedent Difficult determination to make Facial bones most important Nasal aperture Teeth Interorbital space Mandible

CHE Stature estimate Measure long bone(s) available Plug in value to formula Range established for stature of decedent 5’ 2” – 5’ 5”

CHE Other information TRAUMA and PATHOLOGIES Ante- mortem Post-mortem Peri-mortem Gunshot

CHE Trauma

CHE 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.

CHE 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.

CHE Case Study September 1999 Tourist Aircraft Crash on the Big Island of Hawaii From Prof. Ann Bunch SUNY Oswego

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash Piper Aircraft with 9 passengers, 1 pilot

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash Aircraft’s path prior to crash & location of crash

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash NTSB determination of cause = pilot error

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash Document remains present

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

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash Personal effects and identification

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash Identification “by exclusion” Osteoarthritis

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash

CHE Big Island Aircraft Crash Sorting out commingling

CHE Other Types of Evidence Wreckage fragments Wreckage in situ

Race Determination Activity CHE

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