1. Forensic Anthropology
-Forensic anthropology is the study of skeletal remains to help determine the identity and cause of death of a victim
-Often this evidence is important to legal investigations

2. Role of the Forensic Anthropologist:
Forensic Anthropology
Role of the Forensic Anthropologist:
Recover remains and
determine if remains are human or not
Determine identity of Human Remains
Determine Time or Cause of Death

3. Forensic Anthropology
Education:
Most forensic anthropologists are specialists in physical anthropology.
Work in universities or museums
Certification available from the American Board of Forensic Anthropology

4. Locating Human Remains
Cadaver dogs
Remote sensing methods such as
Infrared photography,
ground penetrating radar,
and metal detectors.

5. Determining Cause of Death
Antemortem (before death) vs. postmortem (after death) breaks

6. Human bone –vs- Animal bone
Macroscopic differences
Baboon femur
Human femur

7. Dog skull
Baboon skull

8. Microscopic differences
human
mouse

9. Osteology: study of Bones Sub-discipline of Anthropology and archeology
Each bone studied INDIVIDUALLY
206 Skeletal Bones (total)

10. Skeletal anatomy
a. 206 bones
b. Man = 12 lbs woman = 10 lbs

11. Determining Gender
The best skeletal evidence for determining gender comes from the shape of the pelvis. Pelvic opening much wider in females.

12. The SKULL can also be used to determine gender in some cases
The SKULL can also be used to determine gender in some cases. The following structures tend to be more robust in men.
-Brow ridges- more pronounced in the male than the female
-Occipital bun
-Jaw and Cheekbones- more pronounced in the male
-mastoid process- larger in the male

13. Gender

14. Information from skeletal remains: Gender of decedent

15. Determining Ancestry/Race
Types of evidence-
-Shape of the nasal opening
- Presence or absence of a nasal sill
-Presence of shovel-shaped incisor teeth indicates Native American or East Asian decent
-Straightness or projection of the lower portion of the face
-Heavy or small brow ridges
-Degree of curvature of one or more bones of the lower extremities

16. Race

19. Using skeletal remains to determine age of the victim
Epiphyseal (Growth) plates are areas near the ends of bones where bones grow and increase in length. They can help determine if a person was still growing and give clues about their age
Fusion of bones in skull (presence or absence of
Fontanel)

20. Age at Death Long Bone Development

21. Age at Death

22. Age at Death

23. -Osteoporosis
The loss of bone density described as osteoporosis can also be used in estimating age

24. Odontology
Tooth emergence (eruption) can give accurate estimates of age for people who have not yet grown their complete set of adult teeth
Tooth wear can also help in determining age, worn teeth can indicate a lifetime of usage.

25. Calculating Height from bones.
A person’s height can be estimated using the lengths of the long bones such as the leg bones: femur, tibia, fibula and the arm bones: ulna radius, and humerus.
Estimations are done using a mathematical equation which
Is gender specific.

26. Individual Identification
Dental Records
Medical Records indicating past physical trauma
(Fractures and damage to bones leave scars after they heal.)
- facial reconstruction
DNA analysis (bone marrow)
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.

27. Summary