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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 Anthropology
Forensic
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 Process
1.
2.
a.
Forensic Anthropologists take
an “inventory” of all bones
present
When inventory is taken,
specific bone names are
used.
For Ex.:
NOT cranium ; left parietal
After inventory is complete,
conclusions are made in regards
to age, gender, size/stature, time
of death, and method of death
3.
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 bones
5 weeks -- some scatter, some articulated
4 months -- disarticulated, within 10' circle
7 to 8 months -- most bones w/in 10' circle and all w/in
20'
1 year -- small bones missing, complete disarticulation
2 to 4 years -- some bones broken, scattered 40', some
large bones missing
12+ years -- bone rot; partial burial*
15 to 20 years -- no surface evidence
* partial burial from leaves, storms, erosion from shallow
burial
Determining Manner of Death
5
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 Characteristics
Righty
or Lefty/Hand
dominance
Runner or other kind of athlete
Bone diseases
And many more!
Videos
 Dr.
Tanya Peckmann: Forensic
Anthropologist – YouTube
 Power of the Bones - YouTube