NCJ Number
68926
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE WORK OF FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGISTS IS DISCUSSED IN THIS CHAPTER FROM 'INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCES'; VICTIM IDENTIFICATION AND DETERMINATION OF AGE, SEX, RACE, AND STATURE ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGISTS ARE INVOLVED IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF DECEASED PERSONS THROUGH EXAMINATION OF REMAINS. FORENSIC ANTHROPOLGISTS ASSIST IN CASES OF HOMICIDE, ASSASSINATION, MASS DISASTERS, AIR CRASHES, AND WAR CASUALTIES. ALTHOUGH MANY ARE INVOLVED PRIMARILY WITH IDENTIFICATION FROM SKELETAL REMAINS, SOME FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGISTS SPECIALIZE IN IDENTIFICATION OF VICTIMS THROUGH HAIR, FOOTPRINT, FINGERNAIL, OR BLOOD FACTOR ANALYSIS. SKELETAL REMAINS PROVIDE A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT CAN BE USED WITH SOME PRECISION IN HUMAN IDENTIFICATION. THE FOLLOWING CAN BE DETERMINED FROM SKELETAL REMAINS: SPECIES, SEX, APPROXIMATE AGE, APPROXIMATE STATURE, SKELETAL INJURY, COMMINGLING OF TWO SKELETONS, AND TIME SINCE DEATH. AGE IS DETERMINED BY BONE SIZE, BONE OSSIFICATION, BASILAR SUTURE, VERTEBRAL LIPPING, MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE SKELETAL PARTS, AND ERUPTION OF TEETH. SEX IS DETERMINED BY PELVIS SHAPE, SYMPHYSEAL BLOCK, ISCHIOPUBLIC INDEX, FEMORAL HEAD DIAMETER, HUMERAL HEAD DIAMETER, THE SKULL, THE SACRUM, AND THE STERNUM. RACE CAN BE DETERMINED BY THE SHAPE OF THE NASAL APERTURE, CHEEK BONES, PALATE, AND FEMORAL BOWING. MEASURING THE LENGTHS OF LONG BONES AND COMPARING THESE MEASUREMENTS TO STANDARD CHARTS DETERMINES STATURE. LIGAMENT PRESERVATION, SKELETAL WEATHERING, INSECT INCLUSIONS, AND BACTERIAL RESORPTION ARE USED TO DETERMINE THE TIME SINCE DEATH. A FEW FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGISTS SPECIALIZE IN RECONSTRUCTING FROM THE SKULLS FACIAL FEATURES OF INDIVIDUALS AS THEY APPEARED DURING LIFE. FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGISTS ARE TRAINED IN PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY TO THE DOCTORAL LEVEL. IN ADDITION, SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS REQUIRED. REFERENCES AND A PHOTOGRAPH ARE INCLUDED IN THE CHAPTER.