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Forensic Anthropology Forensic anthropology is the study of human remains in a legal context. The primary goal of a forensic anthropologist is to determine the biological identity of an individual (i.e. sex, age-at-death, stature, and population affiliation). A forensic anthropologist may also be called upon to try and figure out what happened to an individual by examining his or her bones for evidence of trauma. They may also assist in investigators in making a positive identification of an individual from his or her skeletal remains. Sex Determination: 1. In general, males have bigger bones and larger areas of muscle attachment than females. 2. The pelvic bones are the best indicators of sex. 3. The skull, or cranium, is the second best indicator of sex. 4. Long bones may also be used for sex determination, although they are less accurate than the skull or pelvic bones. 5. As significant skeletal indicators of sex do not develop until puberty, it is very difficult to accurately determine the sex of children and young adolescents. 6. Population differences and age can influence sex determination. Age Estimation: 1. A number of methods are used to estimate the age-at-death of an individual from his or her skeletal remains. 2. The most common methods used to estimate the age of sub adults (individuals under the age of 18) are bone formation and growth (diaphyseal length and epiphyseal union), and dental formation and eruption. 3. Among the most common methods used to estimate the age of adults are cranial suture closure, changes to pelvic bones, and tooth wear. 4. It is easier to estimate the age-at-death of sub adults because growth occurs in a known pattern. 5. Age estimation is not an exact science – age estimates are usually expressed in a range of years. eg. This individual was 40-50 years of age at the time of his death. Stature Estimation: 1. Stature or height is estimated by measuring the maximum length, in centimeters, of one or more of the six major long bones and plugging the number into a formula. 2. Separate formulae have been developed for different populations so it is important to know the population affiliation of the individual before doing the calculation. 3. Separate formulae have been developed for males and females so it is important to know the sex of the individual before doing the calculation. Population Affiliation: 1. Physical anthropologists generally agree that there is no such thing as race (i.e. it has no biological basis); however forensic anthropologists are often called upon to determine the racial or population affiliation (also referred to as "ancestry") of an individual from his or her skeletal remains. 2. This can be very difficult to do. 3. Determination of population affiliation from skeletal remains is usually done using the skull, and is based on the fact that different populations have different facial features. Positive Identification: 1. A number of different methods are used to make a positive identification from skeletal remains. 2. The most common method is dental records. 3. Other methods include medical records, DNA, frontal sinus patterns, and photographic superimposition. 4. Facial reconstruction may be sued to gather further clues in a case, but it is not used to make a positive identification. Description of Male and Female Skulls (picture on following page) Supraorbital Ridges: (or brow ridge, with is the bony ridge located above the eye sockets of all primates) In Males – extreme supraorbital ridge In Females – slight supraorbital ridge and sharp orbital border The male also shows: Pronounced muscle attachments beneath the eye sockets square chin large canines The female also shows: round chin