Forensic Anthropology

What is Anthropology and Forensic Anthropology?Anthropology: The cultural

and physical study of humans across all geographical areas over time

Forensic AnthropologyForensic Anthropology: the

application of anthropology to legal matters

What Does a Forensic Anthropologist Do?Forensic anthropologists research and apply techniques to determine the age at death, gender, race, stature, abnormalities and “quirks” of skeletal remains

The Process1. Forensic Anthropologists take

an “inventory” of all bones present

2. When inventory is taken, specific bone names are used.

a. For Ex.: NOT cranium ; left parietal

3. After inventory is complete, conclusions are made in regards to age, gender, size/stature, time of death, and method of death

What Differences Do Forensic Anthropologists Look For to Identify Gender?

Size and shape of bone structures are used in determining the gender and sometimes race of the skeleton

Male Female

General size Large Small

Architecture Rugged Smooth

Supraorbital margin Rounded Sharp

Mastoid process Large Small

Occipital bone Muscle lines and protuberance marked Muscle lines not marked

Glabella Bony Flat

Gonial Angle Squared Wide angle

Palate Larger, broader, tends to be U-shaped Small, tends to be a parabola

Occipital condyles Large Small

What Differences Do Forensic Anthropologists Look For to Identify Age?

The best tool for identifying the age of a younger person is looking at the teeth and the jaw (when possible)

Looking at sutures are also helpful

Sutures: zigzag seams where the bones of the skull meet

What Differences Do Forensic Anthropologists Look For to Identify Stature?

Stature or build is determined by using an equation involving the measurements of “long bones”

Long bones include: humeri, ulnae, tibias and fibulae, and femurs

An osteometric board is used to determine weight

This can also be used in race determination

Weight: Lighter people typically have narrower bones

Race: People of African descent have more dense bones than those of European descent

Estimating Time of Death Many factors come into play

when determining TOD as well as the condition of the bones including rate of decay, weather, animal scattering, and if the body is buried or not

Types of fabrics may also help in determining TOD

Material Length of Time in Good Condition (in months)

Rayon 1-2 if buried 5 on surface

Paper 1 in alk or fresh water

5 on surface/in acid*

Cotton/Wool 6 in alk or fresh water

10 to 15 on surface/in acid

Human Hair 10 to 15 if buried wind blows it away on surface

Cotton/Poly 15 on surface 25 to 35 if buried

Other Plastics/Leather

15 to 35 on surface >48 if buried

If buried: body will be completely skeletalized in 1-2 years (may become mummified in dry regions)

If on the surface: Completely skeletalized within 8 months

TOD estimates based on environmental factors are from research in Tennessee as follows: 3 weeks -- articulated bones5 weeks -- some scatter, some articulated4 months -- disarticulated, within 10' circle7 to 8 months -- most bones w/in 10' circle and all w/in 20'1 year -- small bones missing, complete disarticulation2 to 4 years -- some bones broken, scattered 40', some large bones missing12+ years -- bone rot; partial burial*15 to 20 years -- no surface evidence* partial burial from leaves, storms, erosion from shallow burial

Determining Manner of Death5 Possible Manners of Death:

Homicide, suicide, accidental, natural and unknown

Use of x-rays help to determine if an injury was old and healed or if it lead to/was a part of death

Old injuries will show signs of healing Metal objects, such as lead from bullets,

will show up as bright white on x-rays

Other CharacteristicsRighty or Lefty/Hand

dominanceRunner or other kind of

athleteBone diseasesAnd many more!

Videos Dr. Tanya Peckmann

: Forensic Anthropologist – YouTube Power of the Bones - YouTube