FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY

Definition

How is a forensic anthropology case done?

Stage I: Field Recovery

Stage II: Lab analysis, osteological aspects

Stage III: Reporting

Where do forensic anthropologists work?

Interesting articles

Definition

Forensic anthropology is the examination of human bones remains to identify gender, age, race, and caused of death. Forensic anthropology is a subdiscipline within the subfield of physical anthropology. Anthropology is typically comprised of three subfields: cultural anthropology, archaeology, and physical (or biological) anthropology. Some people still include linguistics as a fourth subfield, but more commonly this area is being absorbed by the other three.

Other disciplines in physical anthropology: genetics, human growth and development, primatology (study of primates), paleoanthropology (primate and human evolution), human osteology (study of the skeleton), paleodemography (vital statistics of past populations), skeletal biology, nutrition, dental anthropology, human adaptation and variation (to different climates, altitudes, etc.)--and this is just to name a few...

Forensic anthropology is an "applied" area. It borrows methods and techniques developed from skeletal biology and osteology and applies them to cases of forensic importance. Forensic means "legal."

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How Is a Forensic Anthropology Case Done?

Generally the cases go through 3 stages:

Stage I is recovery of remains

Stage II is laboratory analysis phase

Stage III is reporting one's finding

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Stage I: Field Recovery

The success of any forensic identification cases depend largely upon what is recovered from analysis. While law enforcement official may be very efficient at collecting, preserving and processing of physical evidence, they usually do not do well in skeletal recovery. Whereas forensic anthropologists are experts in dealing with skeletal remains. Some of the problems encountered in this field are surface locations, burial, burned area, crash sense and natural disasters.

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Stage II: Lab Analysis, Osteological aspects

1. Age

Determination of age in children and adolescents relies on dental development,eruption and replacement on the appearance and fusion of ossification centres, and on the measurement of long bone growth. For adult, the most useful method is looking at a series of changes occuring at pubic symphysis. In addition to these procedures, techniques based on microscopic and radiographic examination have recently been developed. As you can see in the picture below, the skull in the left hand side represents the skull of a child at the age between 3 to 5 years old, however in the right hand side is the skull of a man at the age of 60 years old and above.

2. Sex

Techniques fall into two categories; metric and observational. One of the advantages of metric analysis is it can appear more scientific in presenting cases in courtroom. There is a book named Forensic Osteology Advances: the identification of human remains which stated that a number of forensic anthropologists found Y sex chromosome is detectable when time samples are strained with quinacrine mustard and observed under fluorescing microscope. This technique has been improved nowadays. The skulls represent in the picture below are the difference between male and female.

3. Race

Determination of race is perhaps the most difficult and least precise assessment. Difficulties are due to inconsistency between social and biological definitions of race, intermixture between groups and the nature of the skeletal variation between population. Analysis depends on method of observation and drawing conclusion from statistical analysis.

An example of a skull of American Negroid

An example of a skull of American Indian

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Stage III: Reporting

The final step of case studies is reporting the case and/or presentation of evidence in court. Nowadays microcomputer program can be used to produce organised reports in standard format which can produce customised headings anatomical diagram, charts, appendices and table.

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Where Do Forensic Anthropologists Work?

They usually work in academic setting at college or University. This involves teaching courses, conducting research and providing services, for example forensic consultation. Others include work in laboratories private firm or medical examiner. Forensic anthropologists are called upon in both civil and criminal cases. Many homicides, suicide, mass disaster have been solved by forensic anthropology research. Recognition for the value of forensic anthropology is rising. Increasing utilisation of forensic anthropologist by law enforcement agencies and medical examiners has resulted in a large growth in this field.