Forensic Anthropology Forensic Sciences/ Forensic Anthropology •  is a branch of applied physical anthropology concerned with iden4fica4on of human remains in a legal context (Reichs, 1986). •  is the applica4on of knowledge and techniques of human skeletal biology to modern medical-­‐legal problems (Ubelaker & Scammell, 1992) •  is one of several applied fields of scien4fic inquiry that assist law enforcement agencies (e.g., FBI) and the medicolegal profession in criminal inves4ga4on. •  Forensic Sciences study and apply science for the purpose of law. •  Forensic anthropology one of several forensic sciences 2
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Forensic Anthropologists Forensic Sciences •  Analysis of skeletal, badly decomposed, or otherwise
unidentified human remains in legal/humanitarian contexts
•  Application of techniques developed in physical anthropology
to analyze human remains, and to aid in the detection of crime
•  Locating and recovering human skeletal remains
•  Determine the age, sex, ancestry, stature, and unique
identifying features of a decedent
•  Collaborate with forensic pathologists, odontologists, and
homicide investigators to identify a decedent, document
trauma to the skeleton, and/or estimate the postmortem
interval
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Criminalis<cs Digital & Mul<media Sciences Engineering Sciences General Jurisprudence Odontology Pathology/Biology Physical Anthropology Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Ques<oned Documents Toxicology 4
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Forensic Anthropology: Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains Agencies •  Posi<ve iden<fica<on •  Detec<on of evidence of foul play •  Adop<on cases (or unknown parentage) •  People depicted in photographs •  Paternity cases •  Bodily injury/liability cases 5
Special Occasions 6
Other Mummified Remains
Burned Remains
Plane Crash Site
Earthquake/Survivor Search
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Missing Persons Professional Organiza<ons •  American Academy of Forensic Sciences in 1972 •  Physical Anthropology Sec<on (AAFS) •  American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA) 9
Search & Recovery 10
Human vs. Non-­‐human 11
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Commingling Age Determina<on 13
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Ancestry Sex Determina<on 15
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Stature Posi<ve Iden<fica<on Dental Records
Sinus patterns
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Superimposi<on/Overlays 18
Facial Reconstruc<on 19
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Trauma Cause/Manner of Death •  Cause of Death is the disease or injury responsible for death (e.g., gunshot wound, blunt force, trauma, stab wound etc.). •  The Manner of Death is the fashion in which death occurred (e.g., homicide, suicide, natural accident). Gunshot
Blunt force
Sharp force
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Time Since Death/Postmortem Interval 22
Expert Witness •  Odor, vegeta<on, root penetra<on, so\ <ssue and bone <ssue preserva<on •  Forensic Entomology •  Adipocere or grave wax •  Univ. of Tenn. Body Dona<on Program 23
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Chain of Possession Adolph Luetgert Case (1897) •  When and from whom remains were received by forensic anthropologist and what was done with them following examina<on. 25
•  George Dorsey •  Corpus delic4 26
Employment 27
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