1. Elements and Artifacts
No one left behind: Forensic Anthropology in the community by, Keith Biddle and Britney Radford
Accession
Elements and Artifacts
Results
This project was initiated at the request of a citizen of Beaverhead County as a means of identifying which of his relatives were represented in three burials. The remains were curated temporarily during analysis at the University of Montana Forensic Anthropology Lab (UMFAL) and were returned for reburial after analysis was completed. The case was given the number of FSD BHC 2017 Ind #3.
These are some of the skeletal elements used to help ID the individual. For example, the mandible tends to have a more square chin in males and the Os coxa, or innominate, tends to exhibit a wider greater sciatic notch in females.
SEX: MALE
Narrow greater sciatic notch, lack of pre- auricular sulcus, no ventral arc or dorsal pitting on the pubic bone, acute sub- pubic angle. Cranial assessments agreed with pelvic analysis, as did humeral head measurements (Phenice 1969, Bass 2005).
ANCESTRY: EUROPEAN (with possible Asian admixture)
Narrow nasal aperture, distinct nasal sill and prominent nasal spine. High, rounded cranial vault. Sloping eye orbits and retreating zygomatics (Bass 2005, Byers 2016, Klepinger 2006).
AGE: Adult, 48 – 59 years at time of death
Ectocranial suture closure, dental eruption and wear/tooth loss, presence of OA, analysis of known changes to the pubic symphysis and the auricular surface indicate an older individual (Suchey-Brooks 1990, Lovejoy et al. 1985).
STATURE: 5’7” – 6’2”
Measurements of the femur, tibia and humerus were taken and mathematically calculated using standard regression formulas (Trotter – Glesser, 1958).
TRAUMA/PATHOLOGY: EXTENSIVE
Dentition exhibited multiple gold crowns and fillings
Healed fracture to left tibia
4 Healed depression fractures to left parietal
Healed fracture to right hand
Osteo Arthritic development evident on scapulae, lumbar vertebrae, femoral heads
Research Goal
The goal of this research was to create a biological profile of the individual, in the hopes of identification with a potential family member.
Mandible: Note the multiple gold fillings and crowns
FSD BHC 2017 Ind. #3: Mostly complete skeleton laid out anatomically.
FORDISC 3.1 statistical analysis of ancestry and sex. The arrow indicates location of this individual in reference to other exemplars.
Project Overview
Right Os Coxa: Greater Sciatic notch (yellow arrow) and auricular surface (blue arrow) used in sex and age estimates.
Using Bioarchaeological methods we separated material artifacts from human skeletal remains.
Using Forensic Anthropological methods we assessed the human remains and constructed a biological profile of the individual to include:
Sex
Ancestry
Age
Living stature
Pathology and trauma
Working with Archaeology faculty we identified the artifacts and the era in which the individual lived and died.
References
Healed Tibial Fracture is evidence of medical attention
Bass W Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual. 5th ed. Missouri Archaeological Society.
Brooks S, Suchey JM Skeletal age determination based on the os pubis: A comparison of the Acsádi-Nemeskéri and Suchey-Brooks methods. Hum Evol 5:227–238.
Byers SN Introduction to Forensic Anthropology. Taylor & Francis.
Klepinger LL Fundamentals of Forensic Anthropology. John Wiley & Sons.
Phenice TW A newly developed visual method of sexing the os pubis. Am J Phys Anthropol 30:297–301.
Trotter M, Gleser GC A re-evaluation of estimation of stature based on measurements of stature taken during life and of long bones after death. Am J Phys Anthropol 16:79–123.
Cufflinks and tuxedo buttons recovered with the remains.
Remnants of a bowtie