Download Forensic Anthropology

Forensic Anthropology
Purpose
To use a multi-disciplinary approach to uncover the secrets hidden in bones.
Method
Anthropology is the scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural
development of humans. Forensic anthropologists are trained physical anthropologists who apply their
knowledge of biology, science, and culture to the legal process. They identify human remains, along with
pathologists, homicide detectives and other specialists. In the case of the History Detectives, a forensic
anthropologist's skill is used to give an identity and/or a cause of death to skeletal remains.
The field of forensic anthropology is relatively new. Although there were famous grisly murders of the
19th century solved through examination of bones and body fragments, it wasn't until the 1930s that
the relationship between anthropology and the police was formally acknowledged. The gangland
murders of the 1930s forced the FBI to turn to physical anthropologists.
War and Pieces
World War II and the Korean War further helped develop a database of information that became the
basis of identification that is used by anthropologists today. It all started with the task of identifying
dead soldiers.
As all soldiers had thorough health records taken before they were shipped off to war — records that
included age, height, illness history and dental records — researchers were able to discover the names
of soldiers, and develop a database of bone and skull statistics.
The Skeleton in Your Closet
Bones offer amazing clues to the trained eye. A trained forensic anthropologist, using techniques
favored by archeologists, can identify gender, ethnicity, age, illness, pregnancies and even possible
careers.
Craniosacral measurements (skull measurements) have been established for all ages and race groups,
which allow forensic anthropologists to establish a better picture of the deceased. The skull features
unique racial identifiers such as the length of jaw and the distance between eye sockets.
The bones also hold clues to what work the person did. Bony ridges form where the muscles attach and
have pulled over the years. A forensic anthropologist might find a bony ridge on the wrist and decide the
decedent may have been someone who used their hands for a living, such as a chef or seamstress.
Learning From Skeletons
Skull
Look for the sagittal suture – the squiggly line that runs the length of the skull – and note whether is it's
completely fused. If it is, the remains are likely to be of someone older than 35. Look for a second line at
the front of the skull -- the coronal suture – which fully fuses by age 40.
Teeth
Study the teeth. If they're worn down it could be a sign of a poor diet. If they're well-maintained and/or
have good dental work such as fillings, they were able to afford proper dental care—another clue as to
the identity of your skeleton. Consult a scientist who specializes in teeth, known as an odontologist.
They can determine how old a person was at death, what kind of health they were in and what kind of
diet they had.
Sternum
Examine where the ribs join the sternum. This is also a good indicator of age. A forensic anthropologist
will compare it against a database of standard markers and it is often more accurate as it is not a weightbearing bone and remains unaffected by childbirth.
Pelvis
Look for the pubic symphysis, which is the joint located in the pelvis. The older the person at death, the
more pitted and craggy these bones will be. Forensic anthropologists will compare this against a
database of standard markers to learn the age of the skeleton. Check if there are any soft marks on the
cartilage which are left by childbirth as the bones soften to allow easier birth.
To identify gender, assess the pelvis shape; men have a narrow, deep pelvis and women a wider,
shallower pelvis, better-suited to carrying a baby. For a quick identification in the field, a forensic
anthropologist will find the notch in the fan-shaped bone of the pelvis and stick their thumb into it. If
there's room to wiggle the thumb, then it's a female; if it's a tight fit, it's the skeleton of a man
Wrist
Examine the wrists, as bones often hold clues to the primary work of the decedent. Bony ridges form
where the muscles were attached and pulled over the years. A forensic anthropologist might find a bony
ridge on the wrist and decide the dead person may have been someone who used their hands for a
living, such as a chef or seamstress.
DNA
DNA samples may be taken from any existing hair tissue. As well as positively identifying someone, it
can also identify a person's race or tribal origins.
Bugs
When the skeleton is first discovered, take samples from around the remains including any bugs you
come across. Insects such as blowflies have a very distinct lifecycle and often plant their eggs on newly
deceased bodies. By identifying the stage of the lifecycle, a near-exact time of death can be established.
This science is known as forensic entomology.