Download Forensic Anthropology Forensic anthropology is the study of human

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