Forensic AnthropologyHonors Forensic Science

I. Introduction – Forensic Anthropologists

A. “Bone Detectives” B. Help police solve complex cases

involving unidentified human remains

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

II. History

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

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

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

Iii. Women – usually have a wider pelvis

1. can also usually tell if woman has given birth due to separation of pelvic bones

B. Determine approximately how old the person was

i. Bones changes throughout life Ii. Examine joints, bones, teeth

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

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

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

e. Identify racial group

i. MAY be able to identify Ii. Examine width and height of nose

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

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

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

G. Determine whether decedent was right or left handed

i. Usually more muscle attachment on bones on dominant side

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

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.

j. Approximate when individual died

i. Amount of soft tissue present Ii. Weathering cracks on bones Iii. Animal/rodent bites

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

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

D. 3 Methods

i. Layer skull with clay Ii. Sketches Iii. Computer assisted software (FACES)▪ i. http:///www.facesinterquest.com