FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGYFORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY

FORENSIC FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGYANTHROPOLOGY

Hic locus est ubi Hic locus est ubi mortui viveuntes mortui viveuntes docentdocent..

This is the place This is the place where the dead where the dead teach the living.teach the living.

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FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGYFORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY Forensic Anthropology Forensic Anthropology

combines the disciplines combines the disciplines of anthropology and of anthropology and osteology; the study of osteology; the study of bones.bones.

A forensic A forensic anthropologist will anthropologist will frequently work with frequently work with odontologists, odontologists, pathologists and pathologists and investigators to make investigators to make determinations about determinations about skeletal remains.skeletal remains.

The RequirementsThe RequirementsA forensic anthropologist provides basic A forensic anthropologist provides basic

identification of skeletonized or badly identification of skeletonized or badly decomposed remains.decomposed remains.

Once an object is identified as a bone, the Once an object is identified as a bone, the scientist may be able to determinescientist may be able to determine::

Human vs. Non-humanHuman vs. Non-humanAgeAgeGenderGenderRaceRaceHeightHeight

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The ProcessThe Process First, the forensic anthropologist must First, the forensic anthropologist must

determine if the remains are bones.determine if the remains are bones. Wood fragments, stones, pottery pieces or Wood fragments, stones, pottery pieces or

plastics are often mistaken for bones.plastics are often mistaken for bones.

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The First Determination - Are the The First Determination - Are the bones human?bones human?

Once the remains Once the remains are verified as bone, are verified as bone, the examiner must the examiner must determine if the determine if the bones are human.bones are human.

Although, many Although, many human and non human and non human bones look human bones look similar, there are a similar, there are a few very distinct few very distinct differences.differences.

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The SkullThe Skull The skull is very different between The skull is very different between

humans and non-humans.humans and non-humans. The eye orbits are located at the The eye orbits are located at the

front in humans, on the side for non-front in humans, on the side for non-humans. humans.

The mandible is U-shaped in humans The mandible is U-shaped in humans and V-shaped in non-humans.and V-shaped in non-humans.

Humans have a chin.Humans have a chin. Humans have a larger brain cavity.Humans have a larger brain cavity.

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The SkullThe Skull

HUMAN CAVE BEAR

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Bones of the Body Bones of the Body The upper limbs are less robust in a The upper limbs are less robust in a

human.human. The human pelvis is wide, short and The human pelvis is wide, short and

bowl-shaped. A non-human pelvis is bowl-shaped. A non-human pelvis is long, narrow and blade-shaped.long, narrow and blade-shaped.

The arm and leg bones in humans The arm and leg bones in humans are separate while in non-humans are separate while in non-humans they are often fused.they are often fused.

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The PelvisThe Pelvis

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Age Determination – The Next Age Determination – The Next StepStep

At birth the human At birth the human body has body has approximately 350 approximately 350 bones.bones.

Many of these bones Many of these bones fuse and the adult fuse and the adult human body has 206 human body has 206 bones.bones.

The number of bones The number of bones found at the scene found at the scene may help with an age may help with an age range determination.range determination.

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Age* Determination – Age* Determination – The Next StepThe Next Step

Most accurate estimations use:Most accurate estimations use: TeethTeeth Epiphyses or growth platesEpiphyses or growth plates Sutures: Cranial and BasilarSutures: Cranial and Basilar

There are three major cranial sutures that There are three major cranial sutures that appear as distinct lines in youth and gradually close appear as distinct lines in youth and gradually close from the inside out.from the inside out.

*Investigators always use an age range because of the *Investigators always use an age range because of the variation in people and how they age.The investigator does variation in people and how they age.The investigator does not want to eliminate any possibilities for identification. not want to eliminate any possibilities for identification.

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Age Determination- TeethAge Determination- Teeth The first set of teeth erupt between 6 The first set of teeth erupt between 6

months and 3 years.months and 3 years. There are 22 “baby” teeth.There are 22 “baby” teeth. Between the ages of 6 years and 21 Between the ages of 6 years and 21

years, permanent teeth erupt.years, permanent teeth erupt. There are 32 permanent teeth.There are 32 permanent teeth. The investigator will have to The investigator will have to

determine which set of teeth are determine which set of teeth are present in the skull.present in the skull.

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Age Determination - EpiphysisAge Determination - Epiphysis An epiphysis is the An epiphysis is the

growth plate area at growth plate area at the end of the long the end of the long bone. These areas bone. These areas close or fuse at close or fuse at different ages.different ages.

For females, fusion is For females, fusion is complete between 18-complete between 18-20 years.20 years.

For males, fusion is For males, fusion is complete between 17-complete between 17-21 years.21 years.

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An Infant or Fetal Skull An Infant or Fetal Skull An infant skull has An infant skull has

spaces, or soft spaces, or soft spots, between the spots, between the bone plates. bone plates.

Sutures form Sutures form where these bones where these bones fuse together.fuse together.

Age Determination – Cranial Age Determination – Cranial SuturesSutures

There are three There are three major cranial major cranial sutures that sutures that appear as appear as distinct lines in distinct lines in youth and youth and gradually close gradually close from the inside from the inside out.out.

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Age Determination - Age Determination - Cranial SuturesCranial Sutures

Sagittal suture completely closedSagittal suture completely closed MalesMales——26 or older26 or older FemaleFemale——29 or older29 or older

Sagittal suture is complete openSagittal suture is complete open MaleMale——less than 32less than 32 FemaleFemale——less than 35less than 35

Complete closure of all three major Complete closure of all three major suturessutures MaleMale——over 35over 35 FemaleFemale——over 50over 50

Sagittal suture

Lambodial Coronal

Age Determination – Basilar Age Determination – Basilar SutureSuture

The basilar suture is The basilar suture is located in the roof located in the roof of the mouth.of the mouth.

It closes in females as It closes in females as young as 14 and in young as 14 and in males as young as males as young as 16. 16.

If the suture is open, If the suture is open, the individual is the individual is generally generally considered 18 or considered 18 or younger.younger.

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The Next Step in the Process is The Next Step in the Process is Gender DeterminationGender Determination

The most The most important bone important bone needed for needed for gender gender determination is determination is the pelvisthe pelvis..

Gender Differences in BonesGender Differences in BonesThe pelvis of the female is wider. Males have a The pelvis of the female is wider. Males have a

narrow subpubic angle narrow subpubic angle (A)(A) and a narrow pubic and a narrow pubic bone body bone body (B).(B).

MaleMale Female Female

Sub Pubic Angle

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Gender Differences Gender Differences in Bonesin Bones

The ribcage and shoulders The ribcage and shoulders of males are generally of males are generally wider and larger than that wider and larger than that of females. In addition, of females. In addition, about one person in twenty about one person in twenty has an extra rib. This is has an extra rib. This is more common in males more common in males than in females.than in females.

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Male vs Female SkullMale vs Female Skull The female skull is usually The female skull is usually

more rounded with a less more rounded with a less pronounced forehead.pronounced forehead.

Males have more Males have more pronounced upper eye orbit pronounced upper eye orbit and upper cheek bone and upper cheek bone (zygomatic process). (zygomatic process).

Males have a more squared Males have a more squared or U-shaped lower jaw. or U-shaped lower jaw. Females have more Females have more rounded or V-shaped lower rounded or V-shaped lower jaws (mandibles). jaws (mandibles).

Gender Differences in Gender Differences in BonesBones

Although occurring less frequently, in males Although occurring less frequently, in males the index, or first, finger is usually shorter the index, or first, finger is usually shorter than the third finger. In females, the first than the third finger. In females, the first finger is longer than the third finger.finger is longer than the third finger.

Is this a male or female hand according to the above rule?

Determination of RaceDetermination of RaceRace is difficult to determine from most skeletal Race is difficult to determine from most skeletal

remains, especially since there are no pure races. remains, especially since there are no pure races. However, an experienced forensic anthropologist can However, an experienced forensic anthropologist can

generally place skulls into one of three historic generally place skulls into one of three historic groups:groups:

CaucasoidsCaucasoids – European, Middle Eastern and East – European, Middle Eastern and East Indian DescentIndian Descent

NegroidsNegroids – African, Aborigine and Melanesian descent – African, Aborigine and Melanesian descentMongoloidsMongoloids – Asian, Native American and Polynesian – Asian, Native American and Polynesian

descentdescent

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Race CharacteristicsRace Characteristics CaucasoidsCaucasoids——have a long, narrow nasal aperture, a have a long, narrow nasal aperture, a

triangular palate, oval orbits, narrow zygomatic triangular palate, oval orbits, narrow zygomatic arches and narrow mandibles.arches and narrow mandibles.

NegroidsNegroids——have a wide nasal aperture, a have a wide nasal aperture, a rectangular palate, square orbits, and more rectangular palate, square orbits, and more pronounced zygomatic arches. The long bones are pronounced zygomatic arches. The long bones are longer, have less curvature and greater density.longer, have less curvature and greater density.

MongoloidsMongoloids——have a more rounded nasal aperture, have a more rounded nasal aperture, a parabolic palate, rounded orbits, wide zygomatic a parabolic palate, rounded orbits, wide zygomatic arches and more pointed mandibles.arches and more pointed mandibles.

Racial Differences Racial Differences What differences do you notice between What differences do you notice between these three skulls? Could you tell each these three skulls? Could you tell each

race?race?

Last Determination - Last Determination - Human StatureHuman Stature

Height of a person can be calculated by using Height of a person can be calculated by using the length of certain bones, including the the length of certain bones, including the femur, tibia, humerus, and/or radius. femur, tibia, humerus, and/or radius.

Below are the general formulas (in cm) for both Below are the general formulas (in cm) for both male and female. There are more specific male and female. There are more specific charts if the race of the individual is knowncharts if the race of the individual is known. .

Male Female

femur x 2.23 + 69.08 femur x 2.31 +61.41tibia x 2.39 + 81.68 tibia x 2.53 + 72.57humerus x 2.97 + 73.57 humerus x 3.14 + 64.97radius x 3.65 + 80.40 radius x 3.87 + 76.50

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Facial RestorationFacial RestorationAfter determining the After determining the sex, age, and race of an sex, age, and race of an individual, facial individual, facial features can be built features can be built upon a skull to assist in upon a skull to assist in identification. Markers identification. Markers are used to make tissue are used to make tissue depths at various points depths at various points on the skull. Clay is on the skull. Clay is used to build around used to build around these markers and facial these markers and facial features are molded.features are molded.

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Steps in Facial ReconstructionSteps in Facial ReconstructionWith a skull:With a skull:

Establish age, sex and Establish age, sex and racerace

Plot landmarks for tissue Plot landmarks for tissue thicknessthickness

Plot origin and insertion Plot origin and insertion points for musclespoints for muscles

Plot landmarks for facial Plot landmarks for facial featuresfeatures

Select a dataset and Select a dataset and mount markers for tissue mount markers for tissue thicknessthickness

Mount the eyesMount the eyes

Model muscles on Model muscles on skullskull

Add fatty tissue Add fatty tissue around eyes and around eyes and lacrimal glandslacrimal glands

Add eyelidsAdd eyelids Add the noseAdd the nose Add the parotid glandAdd the parotid gland Add the earsAdd the ears Cover all with layers Cover all with layers

of skinof skin Detail the faceDetail the face

AnthropologistAnthropologistat Workat Work

This anthropologist ishard at work dustingaway material from these imbedded bones.

Picture taken at Chicago’s Museum of Natural History

Animal Facial RestorationAnimal Facial RestorationDetermining what T Rex looked like using the bone formation.From this: To this:

Animal Structure and FunctionAnimal Structure and Function

Beaver jaw with the Beaver jaw with the end results seen end results seen on the log.on the log.

Other Bone Other Bone IdentificationIdentification

Forensic experts may be called upon to Forensic experts may be called upon to determine the life and death of humans determine the life and death of humans and animals in unique circumstances, and animals in unique circumstances, including:including:– Mass Murder (Oklahoma bombing, plane crashes, Mass Murder (Oklahoma bombing, plane crashes,

World Trade)World Trade)– Earlier man (mummies, Iceman, Lindow man)Earlier man (mummies, Iceman, Lindow man)– Historical Significance (Holocaust, uncertain death Historical Significance (Holocaust, uncertain death

of famous people)of famous people)– Prehistoric Animals (Dinosaurs)Prehistoric Animals (Dinosaurs)