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September 14Material copyright 2012 Durham

Material copyright 2012 Durham

FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGYand ODONTOLOGY

Today we meet the –ologies!

Lyndsay S. Durham

AnthropologyStudy of Humans

Physical Anthropology‐Study Human Biology

Cultural Anthropology‐Study Social Behavior

Forensic AnthropologyApplying skeletal identification to matters

involving the public and the law.



Anthropological Origins

Dr. Jeffries Wyman1849

Alphonse Bertillon1879

Mikhail Gerasimov1964

What is forensic anthropology?

•The study of human evolution, as revealed by the skeleton or by evolutionary patterns in DNA

•The use of osteology to assess age, sex, stature, ancestry, trauma or foul play and disease

Osteology (defined):

The scientific study of bones

Building a Biological ProfileSeptember 14Material copyright 2012 Durham


AGE ASSESSMENT


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Variation ‐ Age



Newborn Juvenile

Variation ‐ Age




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Comparison of 5 yr. old and 60 yr. old

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Comparison of 5 yr. old and a fetus



SEX ASSESSMENT



Material copyright 2012 Durhamfemale male

male female



Male & Female Pelvis


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RACE ASSESSMENT


Morphological Assessment

Asian White Black


Asian Ancestry• Includes Native American,

Hispanic

• Round, short vault

• Rounder orbits

• Flared cheek bones, sunken in

• Wide inter‐orbital distances

• Narrow nasal aperture

• Edge‐on‐edge bite

European Ancestry

• Rounder cranial vault

• Taller forehead

• Oblong eye orbits

• Flatter cheekbones

• Narrow nasal aperture

• Pinched in nasal bones

African Ancestry

• Globular Skull

• Rounder Orbits

• Flat cheek bones

• Wider Inter‐orbital distance

• Wider nasal aperture

• Slightly protruding

upper jaw

Ancestry Estimation

African

Asian

European

African

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Ancestry Estimation

Asian

EuropeanAfrican

Identification

Gender

Stature

Ancestry

Age

Trauma (Antemortem, Perimortem, Postmortem)


TRAUMA




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CULTURAL/PATHOLOGICALTERATIONS


Dental AlterationsMastication changesTrade relatedChipping or grooves

SquattingKnees, toes, hips

Repetitive movements

Arthritis

Fractures

Infections/Tumors/Disorders




IDENTIFICATION


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Individual Variations



Facial Reconstruction

1. Markers to show depth are applied to the skull based on studies and data

2. Strips of clay are added according to depths to fill around markers

3. Features are rounded4. Lips are shaped based on data5. Smoothing, nose, cheeks,

brow bone, etc. are shaped based on data reflecting information consistent with members of the same ethnic groups

Issues: interpretationLeast accurate features: nasal bridge, ears

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Three Types of Reconstruction

1. 2D• Collaboration between artist and anthropologist based on skull and

antemortem photographs• Placement of tissue depth markers at anthropologically significant

landmarks• Used when we don’t know the victim’s identity• Results in drawings on paper

• Edited and manipulated in computer program to create 2D facial approximations

2. 3D• Collaboration between artist, forensic anthropologist, and scanned

photographs of actual remains• Utilizes stock photos of facial features to generate model

• Used when we don’t know the victim’s identity• Results in clay or plaster sculpture

3. Superimposition• Requires knowledge of victim’s identity• Involves “lay over” of photo of individual and x‐ray of skull• Anatomical match can result in “match” of victim with bones



Two Types of Reconstructive Identification

1. Circumstantial• Deceased individual’s skeletal

remains fit a biological profile2. Positive

• Actual identification of an individual’s remains

Applications• Historical figures• Facial recognition• Identification



ODONTOLOGY



What is forensic odontology?

• The study of the physiology, anatomy and pathology of teeth

• The application of methods and techniques of dental identification in forensics

• Use of teeth and bite marks for identification


Material copyright 2012 DurhamMaterial copyright 2012 Durham September 14Material copyright 2012 Durham

Why does it work?

• Teeth and bones are often resistant to:

– Fire

– Severe decomposition

– Exposure to the elements

• Dental records must be available for comparison

– This would be your EXEMPLAR

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BITE MARK ANALYSIS



Material copyright 2012 Durham Ted Bundy September 14Material copyright 2012 Durham



Material copyright 2012 DurhamMaterial copyright 2012 Durham September 14Material copyright 2012 Durham


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Forensic Odontology




The Body Farm

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