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Forensic Anthropology
What is Anthropology and Forensic Anthropology?Anthropology: The cultural
and physical study of humans across all geographical areas over time
Forensic AnthropologyForensic Anthropology: the
application of anthropology to legal matters
What Does a Forensic Anthropologist Do?Forensic anthropologists research and apply techniques to determine the age at death, gender, race, stature, abnormalities and “quirks” of skeletal remains
The Process1. Forensic Anthropologists take
an “inventory” of all bones present
2. When inventory is taken, specific bone names are used.
a. For Ex.: NOT cranium ; left parietal
3. After inventory is complete, conclusions are made in regards to age, gender, size/stature, time of death, and method of death
What Differences Do Forensic Anthropologists Look For to Identify Gender?
Size and shape of bone structures are used in determining the gender and sometimes race of the skeleton
Male Female
General size Large Small
Architecture Rugged Smooth
Supraorbital margin Rounded Sharp
Mastoid process Large Small
Occipital bone Muscle lines and protuberance marked Muscle lines not marked
Glabella Bony Flat
Gonial Angle Squared Wide angle
Palate Larger, broader, tends to be U-shaped Small, tends to be a parabola
Occipital condyles Large Small
What Differences Do Forensic Anthropologists Look For to Identify Age?
The best tool for identifying the age of a younger person is looking at the teeth and the jaw (when possible)
Looking at sutures are also helpful
Sutures: zigzag seams where the bones of the skull meet
What Differences Do Forensic Anthropologists Look For to Identify Stature?
Stature or build is determined by using an equation involving the measurements of “long bones”
Long bones include: humeri, ulnae, tibias and fibulae, and femurs
An osteometric board is used to determine weight
This can also be used in race determination
Weight: Lighter people typically have narrower bones
Race: People of African descent have more dense bones than those of European descent
Estimating Time of Death Many factors come into play
when determining TOD as well as the condition of the bones including rate of decay, weather, animal scattering, and if the body is buried or not
Types of fabrics may also help in determining TOD
Material Length of Time in Good Condition (in months)
Rayon 1-2 if buried 5 on surface
Paper 1 in alk or fresh water
5 on surface/in acid*
Cotton/Wool 6 in alk or fresh water
10 to 15 on surface/in acid
Human Hair 10 to 15 if buried wind blows it away on surface
Cotton/Poly 15 on surface 25 to 35 if buried
Other Plastics/Leather
15 to 35 on surface >48 if buried
If buried: body will be completely skeletalized in 1-2 years (may become mummified in dry regions)
If on the surface: Completely skeletalized within 8 months
TOD estimates based on environmental factors are from research in Tennessee as follows: 3 weeks -- articulated bones5 weeks -- some scatter, some articulated4 months -- disarticulated, within 10' circle7 to 8 months -- most bones w/in 10' circle and all w/in 20'1 year -- small bones missing, complete disarticulation2 to 4 years -- some bones broken, scattered 40', some large bones missing12+ years -- bone rot; partial burial*15 to 20 years -- no surface evidence* partial burial from leaves, storms, erosion from shallow burial
Determining Manner of Death5 Possible Manners of Death:
Homicide, suicide, accidental, natural and unknown
Use of x-rays help to determine if an injury was old and healed or if it lead to/was a part of death
Old injuries will show signs of healing Metal objects, such as lead from bullets,
will show up as bright white on x-rays
Other CharacteristicsRighty or Lefty/Hand
dominanceRunner or other kind of
athleteBone diseasesAnd many more!
Videos Dr. Tanya Peckmann
: Forensic Anthropologist – YouTube Power of the Bones - YouTube
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