as
ASM 275
Unit 1
Module 2
What is Forensic Anthropology?
Forensics in modern parlance means the intersection of the
legal and medical spheres
Forensic anthropology is a brand of both forensic science
and biological anthropology
Specifically, is the field of study that deals with skeletonized
or decomposed remains for the purpose of aiding in a legal
investigation
Goals of the Forensic Anthropologist
Determining age, living stature, sex and ancestry of skeletal
remains
Analysis of bone trauma vs. pathology
Assessment of postmortem interval via understanding of
postmortem processes
Use archaeological methods to recover remains in a
through, systematic way
Analyze unique features to help identify individuals
What isn’t Forensic Anthropology?
Forensic anthropology is not the study of death
, Decedents (dead people) who are fully fleshed are not
usually examined by forensic anthropologists
Forensic anthropology general does not deal with the
remains of individuals who died more than 50 years ago
Other Duties of the Forensic Anthropologist
Forensic anthropologists are often called to help identify
remains in the case of those killed in war and mass
disasters
Forensic anthropologists may also aid in investigating
deaths of little medico-legal significance that nonetheless
have profound historical value, such as the murder of the
Russian royal family in 1918
The Forensic Analysis
Are the remains human?
If so, are they forensic significance?
How many individuals are represented?
When did death occur?
How old was the decedent?
What sex were they?
Can ancestry be determined?
Can living stature, weight be estimated?
Can any clues as to positive identification be ascertained?
Cause of death (ex. gunshot wound, stabbing, etc.)?
Manner of death (accident, suicide, homicide)
Forensic science is experiment-based
, Forensic science is pattern-based
What are the input variables, those things that affect the
outcome?
How repeatable is the observation?
Module 3
The basis of all forensic anthropology is an intimate knowledge
of human skeletal anatomy, growth, function, and structure,
including the dentition. This field of study is called OSTEOLOGY.
Keys to Success
Take intensive course in Human Anatomy and Osteology
Identify from Fragments
Human or not
Bone, side and any pertinent information
Appreciate range of variation possible in humans
Appreciate sources of variation in humans
Sources of Variation in the Human Skeleton
What is normal? What is acceptable for humans?
Age
Sex (also variation related to size and muscularity)
Ancestry- local adaption and evolutionary forces
Muscularity, conditioning- may affect muscle attachments
Occupational- habitual activities may cause deviations from
the norm
Pathology- study of disease
ASM 275
Unit 1
Module 2
What is Forensic Anthropology?
Forensics in modern parlance means the intersection of the
legal and medical spheres
Forensic anthropology is a brand of both forensic science
and biological anthropology
Specifically, is the field of study that deals with skeletonized
or decomposed remains for the purpose of aiding in a legal
investigation
Goals of the Forensic Anthropologist
Determining age, living stature, sex and ancestry of skeletal
remains
Analysis of bone trauma vs. pathology
Assessment of postmortem interval via understanding of
postmortem processes
Use archaeological methods to recover remains in a
through, systematic way
Analyze unique features to help identify individuals
What isn’t Forensic Anthropology?
Forensic anthropology is not the study of death
, Decedents (dead people) who are fully fleshed are not
usually examined by forensic anthropologists
Forensic anthropology general does not deal with the
remains of individuals who died more than 50 years ago
Other Duties of the Forensic Anthropologist
Forensic anthropologists are often called to help identify
remains in the case of those killed in war and mass
disasters
Forensic anthropologists may also aid in investigating
deaths of little medico-legal significance that nonetheless
have profound historical value, such as the murder of the
Russian royal family in 1918
The Forensic Analysis
Are the remains human?
If so, are they forensic significance?
How many individuals are represented?
When did death occur?
How old was the decedent?
What sex were they?
Can ancestry be determined?
Can living stature, weight be estimated?
Can any clues as to positive identification be ascertained?
Cause of death (ex. gunshot wound, stabbing, etc.)?
Manner of death (accident, suicide, homicide)
Forensic science is experiment-based
, Forensic science is pattern-based
What are the input variables, those things that affect the
outcome?
How repeatable is the observation?
Module 3
The basis of all forensic anthropology is an intimate knowledge
of human skeletal anatomy, growth, function, and structure,
including the dentition. This field of study is called OSTEOLOGY.
Keys to Success
Take intensive course in Human Anatomy and Osteology
Identify from Fragments
Human or not
Bone, side and any pertinent information
Appreciate range of variation possible in humans
Appreciate sources of variation in humans
Sources of Variation in the Human Skeleton
What is normal? What is acceptable for humans?
Age
Sex (also variation related to size and muscularity)
Ancestry- local adaption and evolutionary forces
Muscularity, conditioning- may affect muscle attachments
Occupational- habitual activities may cause deviations from
the norm
Pathology- study of disease
