1800s-1938; concept of forensic anthro was not established, events included Parkman Murder and Leutgert Muder
parkman murder
event in formative pd where a professor Webster was convicted of murdering Parkman who was a physician. anatomists described bones in the furnace and the biological profile, while dentist IDed dentures he made for Parkman
luetgert murder
accused of killing wife in vat of acid, anthropologist concluded that bones were human and female,
consolidation pd
(1939-1972) people start to see the significance in forensic anthropology and develop material to consult
event that bridged from formative pd to consolidation pd
wilton marion krogman publishes "guide to the ID of human skeletal material"
modern period
(1972-present)
event that bridged from consolidation to modern pd
Ellis Kerley and Clyde Snow establish division in American Academy of Forensic Science for forensic anthropolgy
roles of a forensic anthropologist
-scene recovery, human vs nonhuman, forensic significance, biological profile, trauma analysis, taphonomy
taphonomy
time since death
osteology
study of bone
human skeleton has how many bones
206
characteristics of bone
living, dynamic tissue, responds to environment and stressors, composed of organic and inorganic component
what three main questions are asked when trying to establish forensic significance
bone vs nonbone, human vs nonhuman, contemporary or noncontemporary
how to establish bone vs nonbone
need trained osteologists, determination based on microscopy/elemental composition
how to establish human vs nonhuman
know your osteology-> histological differences, muturity differences, and architectural/morphological differences
histology
study of microscopic structures of tissues, important in fragmentary remains
histological differences in animals vs humans
animals have plexiform bone (banding), humans have haversian bone (osteons)
diffrences between animal and human skulls
humans have larger braincase, reduced nose, enclosed orbit, reduced canines, and fused mandibles
differences btwn epiphyses and diaphyses in humans and animals
in animals they are small and unfused, in humans they are small and fused
evidences of contemporary state of preservation
yellowish white in color, smooth in texture, heavier because of hydration, little fragmentation, not as fragile, more soft tissue
other evidence of contemp vs noncomtemp
body modification, personal belongings, conditions of interment
differences between forensically significant skull and medical specimen?
medical specimens are bleached, varnished, articulated with hardware, polished, have odd sectioning of bone
differences btwn trophy skulls and forensiccally significant ones
commemorative mark/alteration
religious skulls have
tribal art, power,
differences btwn males and females
f apprx 92% size of m, different architecture bc of childbirth
properties of male pelvis
tall and narrow, large and rugges, heart shaped, narrow subpubic angle, pubic bone more triangular, tighter sciatic notch
properties of female pelvis
short and wide, small and gracile, oral inlet, wide subpubic angle, pubic bone more rectangular, wider sciatic notch, preauricular sulcus
preauricular sulcus
a groove under the sciatic notch
sex differences in sacrum
more curves for males, females have flatter and larger base wing index
sex differences in skull
male: sloping in frontal bone, long and wide mastoid process, square mandible, pronounced brow ridge, high and thick zygomatics, marked and rough nuchal lines.....females: vertical frontal bone, short and narrow mastoid process, rounded mandible, smooth browridge, smooth nuchal lines
problems in sex estimation
large range in human variation and mechanisms and processes that produce variation
how do forensic anthrops deal with problems in sex estimation
familiar with range of human variation, experience, skeletal collections
sex estimation for subadults
elevated auricular surface, females mature faster
bergmanns rule
larger animals have a lower SA:Vol ration so that they radiate less body heat
allens rule
shorter appendages are favored in cold climates because they disspate less heat
ancestry
lineage composing line of genetic dessent
race
georgraphically and culturally determined collegection who share commmon gene groups