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Jason LinvilleUniversity of Alabama at [email protected]
Forensic Anthropology
Role of the Forensic Anthropologist:
� Recover Human Remains
� Identify Human Remains
� Determine Time or Cause of Death
Forensic Anthropology
Education:
� Most forensic anthropologists are specialists in physical anthropology.
Forensic Anthropology
� Work in universities or museums
� Certification available from the American Board of Forensic Anthropology
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Forensic Anthropology
Recovering Human Remains
Forensic Anthropology
Locating Human Remains
� Cadaver dogs� Remote sensing
methods
Forensic Anthropology > Recovering Remains
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� Find small bones or bone fragments
� Recover clothing and trace materials associated with bones
� Prevent damage of bones� Map the location of bones and
maintain chain of custody
Forensic Anthropology > Recovering Remains
Anthropologists can help:
Identifying the remains
Age - look at bone length and bone fusionSex - differences in pelvis, skull, femurStature - size of bonesAncestry - teeth, skull
Forensic Anthropology
Individuality may be determined:� from surgical procedures� from broken bones
Identifying the remains
Forensic Anthropology
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Determining Time of Death
� Anthropologist helpful if soft tissues have decomposed.
� If soft tissue is present, identification can be done by the pathologist.
Forensic Anthropology
� Sharp force trauma (bone cut)� Blunt force trauma (broken bone)� Antemortem vs. postmortem breaks
Determining Cause of Death
Forensic Anthropology
Final Report Should Include:
� Taphonomy (time of death)� Biological profile (age, sex, stature, race)� Individual characteristics� Evidence of possible cause of death
Forensic Anthropology
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Anthropology:� medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics� www.csuchico.edu/anth/ABFA
Odontology:� www.abfo.org
Forensic Anthropology > Web Links