Forensic Anthropology

1. Honors Forensic Science Forensic Anthropology

2. I. Introduction – Forensic Anthropologists • A. “Bone Detectives” • B. Help police solve complex cases involving unidentified human remains

3. C. Often work in conjunction with forensic pathologists, odontologists, homicide detectives to identify a decedent, discover evidence of foul play and/or the post-mortem interval (how long the person has been dead) • D. use the same basic technique as physical anthropologists

4. II. History • A. 1850’s Harvard Professor, Dr. Jefferies Wyman led one of the first forensic anthropology investigations

5. III. Related Fields • A. Forensic Odontology – using dental records • B. Forensic Archaeology – excavation of remains • C. Forensic Entomology – how insects can help determine time of death

6. IV. Techniques • A. Determine if person was male or female • i. Done by studying pelvis, base of skull, forehead, and jaw • Ii. Males – usually have more prominent brow ridge, eye sockets, and jaw

7. Iii. Women – usually have a wider pelvis • 1. can also usually tell if woman has given birth due to separation of pelvic bones

8. B. Determine approximately how old the person was • i. Bones changes throughout life • Ii. Examine joints, bones, teeth

9. Iii. Ex. The smoother the skull, the older the person was. Babies have fontanelles on heads, or soft spots because bones of skull have not fused together • Iv. Wrist bones continue to calcify until early teens • V. Works best if decedent is under 30 years old

10. C. Use formulas to determine height • i. Based on arm and leg bones • Ii. Femur is best, estimation can also be made from metacarpals in hand

11. D. Determine a persons weight • i. Based on wear on bones in certain points • Ii. Also use size, position, and types of muscle attachments to bones • Iii. Also can identify what type of activity person is involved in

12. e. Identify racial group • i. MAY be able to identify • Ii. Examine width and height of nose

13. Iii. Caucasian – nose holes are triangular, usually narrower face, more prominent chin and higher nose • Iv. Negroids – noses are more square. Femur bones are generally straighter than other groups

14. V. Mongoloids – noses are more diamond shape and cheek bones tend to point forward

15. f. Determine occupation of decedent • i. Ex. Is they played an instrument like the flute or clarinet, teeth and mouth may be affected • Ii. Ex. Is worked in a physical labor job, bones may be more dense

16. G. Determine whether decedent was right or left handed • i. Usually more muscle attachment on bones on dominant side

17. H. Determine if victim was ever injured or fractured a bone • i. Can be compared to a person’s medical x-rays to confirm identity

18. i. Determine cause of death • i. Look for signs of trauma to bones • Ii. Ex. Stab marks, marks on skull, broken bones, bullets, pellets etc.

19. j. Approximate when individual died • i. Amount of soft tissue present • Ii. Weathering cracks on bones • Iii. Animal/rodent bites

20. V. Evidence • A. Most of these are class characteristics • B. Some are individual characteristics • C. Courts probably never rely completely on forensic anthropological evidence • D. Provides corroborating evidence

21. VI. Facial Reconstruction • A. Creating a face from the skeleton to help them identify the deceased • B. Eyes are hardest to do • C. Other difficult areas are nose and lips

22. D. 3 Methods • i. Layer skull with clay • Ii. Sketches • Iii. Computer assisted software (FACES) • i. http:///www.facesinterquest.com