FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY

SUPA FS CHEM 113J. Pawlowski, Adjunct

Professor

Forensic anthropologists study and examine human skeletal remains.

RECOVERY

For historical significanceTo identify an individual or groups of individuals

New technologies

Ground Penetrating Radar GPR

Show patterns of densityScientific knowledge to identifyKeep bones intact as foundNo disruption of how bones are lain in groundNOT good for urban environments

Proton Magnetometer

Shows variations in bone emissions of electromagnetic energy

Technical knowledge of energies needed; very specific

Must know differences in soil to begin recovery

Articulation of bones may indicate decomposition

IN fires, bones fragment with heatIn specific designs can look like cindersKnowledge of anthropologist needed!

Is it human?

Human bone is layered, (growth patterns) circumferential

Microscopic examination reveals;Osteomes are circular random patternsRandom patterns seen in primates

DNA analysis or Electon Microscopy

When fragments too small to reveal patterns

Oddities and similarities;Bear handSea turtle femurMicrocephaly

Organic Analysis

Histological evidence along with structural differences and spectral specificity are tied to particular elements and proportion of elements in bone.

Standard samples of bone and teeth established!

Age of death

Arthritic vertebrae; spiny joint/terminal regions- old

Young no spines

Teeth: crown and root development for adultsAre primary teeth present?1st molar; 6 yrs 2nd molar 12 yrsBone loss in mature adults

Teeth and Jaws

Adult: Secondary teeth erupted Third molars erupted or fully formed in jaw

Teen or child may have primary teeth remaining or secondary teeth with a sprinkling of primary teeth.

Teeth may reveal health; limits of lifestyleTranslucence of root increases with age

VERY interesting….

Bones found in remains from birthdate 1950 and earlier have less Carbon 14 in bone than remains from birthdate post-1950

Nuclear age even varies content and quality of remains!

Data correlated on the Bomb Curve Intersect!

To determine manner of deathTo determine legal responsibility

Bones reveal origin, sex, age, race and skeletal scarring and

injury.

Bones experience slow decay and decomposition of the skeletal components & yield evidence after centuries of exposure to the elements.

Tuberculosis history…

Fungal disease shows alteration on skeletal tissueCavitation- bone loss/wearing

Metal plate tracing!Implanted metal plates are imprinted with company insignia and can identify individual!

Facial reconstruction all computerized now; excellent for exclusion

Ante or Post Mortem ?

Or peri mortem?Healings of bone continues… anteAnimal chewing marks- rounded if animalSharp if weapon/knife or saw

Case: State of FL vs. Baglioni 1978- Disney World abduction; psychic aided in investigation; body found; corrugated pubic symphysis; gun shot wound

Why need for FA?

•LONG BURIED OR NOT•FIRE•EXPLOSION•CRASHES /ACCIDENTS•ANCIENT OR HISTORICAL•MULTIPLE BODIES/MASS GRAVE•WAR VICTIMS

The Big 4

Forensic anthropologists attempt to answer the questions;

1. What sex?2. What race? (Caucasoid, Negroid, Mongoloid are the terms used for racial features)3. Age4. Stature

No skin please…

Flesh impedes the anthropological studyFlesh bloats, discolors, and distorts original

human featuresBone reveals more information to identify

remains than decayed fleshFlesh may contain DNA useful for i.d.

Skull bones

Each and every skull bone is vital to

determine the big 4 and other characteristics of

an individual.

Human skull sex differences

Female skull smaller than maleGracile; smooth and streamlinedBrow ridges smooth, not pronouncedOrbit sockets; upper feature sharp, steep edges

Female mouth narrower than male and chin pointed

Skull, cont’d

Male skull has heavier, thicker brow ridgesLess fine, not as steep, orbit socketsOrbit sockets tend to be squarer than femaleLess pointed chin; square jaw phenomenonOccipital protruberance in male; absent in

female skull (occipital bone of skull in back of skull)

Skull Age

Child skull small; even teenage yearsSize dependent on ageLack of ossification of skull bones; young,

non-matureSutures on skull indicative of ageNon fused; open suturesAdult skull has fused sutures, partially or

entirely

Race and Skulls

Negroid vs. Caucasian Skull

Negroid:Prognasthasism; jutting of maxilla and

mandibleTest with pencil from nose to chinIf pencil touches teeth but not chinBone is denser; sheen and ivory colorNasal openings broader than Caucasoid skullWHY?

Race and Skulls

Mongoloids: shovel-shaped teethConcave like incisors/upperSquared eye socketsZygomatic arches are longerMay be shorter distance to orbital socketsGreater width between eyes from other 2

races

Race and Skulls

CaucasoidSkull is orthognathicLess jaw jut forwardPencil test would touch nose to chin/jaws

Narrower nasal openings, why?Less dense bones, color varies

Long Bones

And sex….Hip (ilium and ischium prior to puberty)

Inominate bone after pubertyFemur (upper leg)Humerus (upper arm)

Hips

Pre puberty: Ischium, Ilium and pubis

Post puberty: inonimate bone of hip: flared ears of elephant?

Female: distinct changes with age/stages of development in hip bones.Male: hip bones do not vary/change in life stages

Hip differences of sexes

Female hip changes

Mature hip bone broadensPubic bone gets longerAll to accommodate childbirthPubis symphysis changes through life stages.

Spongy, more brittle after 40 yrs or so.Corrugated- young ; smooth- matureMale pelvis narrow; pelvis to femur straightDifferences in the way we walk? The hip swing of females so enjoyed by

males!

Long bones

How femur and humerus articulate with joint bones determines

right or left bone

NEED TO KNOW

Know major bones of limbs; arms legs, hips, vertebrae, ribs, and sternum

Miscellaneous

Long bones reveal much about stature

Remember Bertillon? Anthropometry?

Height varies but proportions do not

Extremities often missing in nature, why?

Cases and readings with FA

The Sea Will Tell, by Vincent BugliosiBuck Dwayne Walker convicted of double

murder

Dr. Bill Bass, Anthropologist, U of Tennessee wrote

Death’s Acre,Runs the Anthropological Institute (body farm)

Bones, by Douglas UbleckerPatricia Cornwall, Body Farm

For you to do…

Research what Mildred Trotter and Goldine Gleser studied.

What contribution did they make to forensic anthropology?

What you will do….

Find three comprehensive FA websites.

Case study on a case involving FA!The Body Farm Dr. Bill Bass, U of Tennessee, Anthropology Dept.