1. Forensic Anthropology

2. Special Forensic Science Services
Forensic Anthropology is concerned primarily with the identification and examination of human skeletal remains.

3. Role of the Forensic Anthropologist:
Forensic Anthropology
Role of the Forensic Anthropologist:
Recover Human Remains
Identify Human Remains
Determine Time or Cause of Death

4. 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

5. Forensic Anthropology

6. Recovering Human Remains
Forensic Anthropology
Recovering Human Remains

7. Locating Human Remains
Forensic Anthropology > Recovering Remains
Locating Human Remains
Cadaver dogs
Remote sensing methods

8. Anthropologists can help:
Forensic Anthropology > Recovering Remains
Anthropologists can help:
Find small bones or bone fragments
Recover clothing and trace materials associated with bones
Prevent damage of bones
Map the location of bones and maintain chain of custody

9. Identifying the remains
Forensic Anthropology
Identifying the remains
Age - look at bone length and bone fusion
Sex - differences in pelvis, skull, femur
Stature - size of bones
Ancestry - teeth, skull

10. Identifying the remains
Forensic Anthropology
Identifying the remains
Individuality may be determined:
from surgical procedures
from broken bones

11. Determining Time of Death
Forensic Anthropology
Determining Time of Death
Anthropologist helpful if soft tissues have decomposed.
If soft tissue is present, identification can be done by the pathologist.

12. Determining Cause of Death
Forensic Anthropology
Determining Cause of Death
Sharp force trauma (bone cut)
Blunt force trauma (broken bone)
Antemortem vs. postmortem breaks

13. Final Report Should Include:
Forensic Anthropology
Final Report Should Include:
Taphonomy (time of death)
Biological profile (age, sex, stature, race)
Individual characteristics
Evidence of possible cause of death

14. Anthropology: Odontology: medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics
Forensic Anthropology > Web Links
Anthropology:
medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics
Odontology: