BONES AND FINGER PRINTS

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UNIT 4

• BONES AND FINGER PRINTS

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I. Forensic Anthropology

• What is it all about?

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A. Terms for Forensic Anthropology

• Alphonse Bertillon- 1883 studied skeletal
  remains to determine size of person use known as
  bertillonage
• Bertillonage The method using individual bone
  measurements to determine a persons height

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WHAT DO WE LOOK AT?

• The bones Identify which bone were looking at.
• The sex of the skeleton Men and women have
  slightly different bone structure

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different bones have different shapes and
thickness of bone
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3. Can estimate the age of a person by the size
of the bone and by the amount of cartilage in the
bone adults dont have cartilage in the bone
itself, just at joints.
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4. Bones have markings that can help us identify
the exact person, or events in the persons life.
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B. Anthropology is the study of humans.

• It consists of several sub-fields 
• Physical anthropology
• Cultural and linguistic anthropology
• Archaeology

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Sub-fields of Anthopology

• Physical anthropology the study of the primate
  order, past and present, such as primate biology,
  skeletal biology, and human adaptation
• Cultural and linguistic anthropology the study
  of the aspects of human society and language,
  past and present
• Archaeology the study of past cultures via
  material remains and artifacts

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C. What exactly is Forensic Anthropology?

• Forensic anthropologists draw on each of the
  sub-fields, but generally rely on knowledge from
  physical anthropology to apply their expertise to
  skeletal remains. 
• According to the American Board of Forensic
  Anthropology, "Forensic anthropology is the
  application of the science of physical
  anthropology to the legal process. 

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Cont.

• Forensic anthropologists apply standard
  scientific techniques developed in physical
  anthropology to identify human remains, and to
  assist in the detection of crime.
• Given the emphasis on skeletons, there is a
  strong link between forensic anthropology and
  odontology.

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D. Areas of Forensic Anthropology

• Much of what occurs in forensic anthropology
  comes from the area of osteology, or the study of
  bones.
• Some forensic anthropologists may also specialize
  in body decomposition and entomology (the study
  of insects) in order to help estimate the time of
  death. 
• Forensic anthropologists assist medical and legal
  specialists to identify known or suspected human
  remains.

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E. What does a Forensic Anthropologist do?

• The main job is to help to identify a deceased
  person based on the available evidence.
• A Forensic Anthropologist may also do tasks such
  as
• archeological excavation
• examination of hair
• examination of insects

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Cont.

• examination of plant materials
• examination of footprints
• determination of elapsed time since death
• facial reproduction
• photographic superimposition
• detection of anatomical variants
• analysis of past injury and medical treatment.

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Examples

• When a skeleton found in a forest is brought to a
  morgue for examination, the first step is to
  determine whether the remains are human, animal,
  or inorganic material.
• If human, an anthropologist then attempts to
  estimate age at death, racial affiliation, sex,
  and stature of the decedent.

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F. The Skeleton's Possible Significance to
Medical and Legal Authorities.

• If the skeleton shows evidence of prolonged
  burial or is accompanied by coffin nails or arrow
  points, it usually represents an historic or
  prehistoric burial rather than a recent death.

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Secondary Tasks

• They provide expert opinion on the type and size
  of weapon(s) used and the number of blows
  sustained by victims of violent crime.
• However, Forensic pathologists or related experts
  in forensic medicine determine the cause or
  manner of death, not the forensic anthropologist.

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Most Valuable Skill

• Familiarity with subtle variations in the human
  skeleton.
• Although most adult skeletons have the same
  number of bones, no two skeletons are identical.
  
• Observations of patterns or unique skeletal
  traits frequently lead to positive
  identifications.
• The most frequently used method for
  identification is to compare before- and
  after-death dental photo images

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• The next used method is old skeletal injuries or
  anatomical skeletal variants revealed in other
  photo images that may provide the comparative
  evidence necessary to establish a positive
  identification.

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G. Who do they work with?

• Forensic pathologists
• Odontologists
• Homicide investigators
• To point out evidence of foul play and assist
  with time of death estimates.