Transcript CHE 113 1
CHE 113 FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY A Very Brief Overview Thanks to help from Prof. Ann Bunch, SUNY Oswego CHE 113 1 Forensic Anthropology Brief Overview •Defined as “the field of study that deals with the analysis of human skeletal remains resulting from unexplained deaths.” •Often done in a legal context •An applied science •Five subdisciplines: •1. Biological, or physical anthropology •2. Archaeology •3. Cultural anthropology •4. Linguistics •5. Applied anthropology CHE 113 2 Forensic Anthropology Goal: Biological Profile Includes: 1. General Description 2. Sex of decedent 3. Age of decedent 4. Ancestry of decedent 5. Stature of decedent 6. Assessment of trauma (ante-, peri-, post mortem) 7. Pathologies noted CHE 113 3 Osteology: study of skeletal remains Each bone studied INDIVIDUALLY 206 Skeletal Bones (total) CHE 113 4 Osteology: study of skeletal remains Each bone studied INDIVIDUALLY CHE 113 5 Osteology Human bone –vs- Animal bone Macroscopic differences Radiology Observation Measurement Microscopic differences CHE 113 6 Osteology CHE 113 7 Osteology CHE 113 8 Macroscopic differences Baboon femur Human femurCHE 113 9 Microscopic differences human Spongy bone mouse CHE 113 10 Osteology Radiographs CHE 113 11 Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent Skull Hip bone Femur CHE 113 12 Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html CHE 113 13 Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent MALE OR FEMALE SKELETON? (a) IS FEMALE and (b) IS MALE Handout CHE 113 14 Male Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent MALE OR FEMALE SKELETON? (a) IS FEMALE and (b) IS MALE Female CHE 113 15 Information from skeletal remains Sex of decedent http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html CHE 113 16 What can we learn from skeletons? Age at Death Hip bone most useful for adults Estimate given as a range (30 – 35 yrs old) Teeth: Erupted or Not? Epiphyses: fused or unfused? Auricular surface Pubic symphysis CHE 113 17 Age at Death Long Bone Development CHE 113 18 Age at Death http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html CHE 113 19 Age at Death http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html CHE 113 20 Osteology Teeth also studied Deciduous –vs- Permanent CHE 113 21 Age at Death http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html CHE 113 22 Epiphyses - A part of bone separated from the main body of the bone by a layer of cartilage and subsequently uniting with the bone through further ossification Unfused = juvenile Fused = adult CHE 113 23 Spine CHE 113 24 More info from skeletal remains ANCESTRY of decedent Difficult determination to make Facial bones most important Nasal aperture Teeth Interorbital space Mandible CHE 113 25 Stature estimate Measure long bone(s) available Plug in value to formula Range established for stature of decedent 5’ 2” – 5’ 5” CHE 113 26 Other information TRAUMA and PATHOLOGIES Ante- mortem Post-mortem Peri-mortem Gunshot CHE 113 27 Trauma CHE 113 28 Individual Identification Person identified when it was found that the amalgam used in her dental restorations was of a type found only in specific areas on the Eastern Coast of the United States. Habitual activity can wear away the protective, cartilagenous lining which reduces friction in joints. The humerus in this photograph were in contact for many years prior to this individual's death. The surfaces are smooth and shiny, indicating that the joint capsule and cartilage had worn away, allowing bone on bone contact in the cavity. http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html CHE 113 29 Individual Identification Dental implants, braces, and other types of dental work are often recovered with a body and are extremely useful in identification because they are so unique to the individual and are well detailed in antemortem radiographs and medical records. Healed fracture on the sternal end of a midthoracic rib. The area within the red brackets is the site of injury. Note the more porous appearance of the bone in this area this is woven bone. http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics/sasta.html CHE 113 30 Case Study From Prof. Ann Bunch SUNY Oswego September 1999 Tourist Aircraft Crash on the Big Island of Hawaii CHE 113 31 Big Island Aircraft Crash Piper Aircraft with 9 passengers, 1 pilot CHE 113 32 Big Island Aircraft Crash CHE 113 33 Aircraft’s path prior to crash & location of crash Big Island Aircraft Crash NTSB determination of cause = pilot error CHE 113 34 Big Island Aircraft Crash CHE 113 35 Big Island Aircraft Crash CHE 113 36 Big Island Aircraft Crash Document remains present CHE 113 37 Big Island Aircraft Crash X-ray all remains/ Possible remains CHE 113 38 Big Island Aircraft Crash CHE 113 39 Big Island Aircraft Crash Personal effects and identification CHE 113 40 Big Island Aircraft Crash Identification “by exclusion” Osteoarthritis CHE 113 41 Big Island Aircraft Crash CHE 113 42 Big Island Aircraft Crash Sorting out commingling CHE 113 43 Other Types of Evidence Wreckage fragments Wreckage in situ CHE 113 44 Federal Government Cases From Prof. Ann Bunch SUNY Oswego Ha Tay Province, Socialist Republic of Vietnam CHE 113 45 1995-1996 Recovery Mission 1972 B-52 Crash Site Christmas Bombing of Hanoi, Operation “Rolling CHE Thunder” 113 46 Witness interviews CHE 113 47 1972 B-52 Crash Site Pond after draining CHE 113 48 B-52 Crash Site Surrounding terrain CHE 113 49 The “Bottomless Pit” CHE 113 50 Wet-screening stations CHE 113 51 Wet-screening stations in operation CHE 113 52 Progress after one field activity Test Pit Test Pit CHE 113 53 6 weeks’ progress CHE 113 54 6 weeks’ progress CHE 113 55 Recovery continues CHE 113 56 Focal point of recovery CHE 113 57 Evidence CHE 113 58 Final View of Excavation CHE 113 59 More Evidence CHE 113 60 More evidence CHE 113 61 Case Status •Remains of tail gunner identified with mtDNA •Captain’s rank insignia recovered from site = presence of second MIA? •Family of tail gunner not willing to accept ID until more solid evidence of other MIA is found/presented Prof. Ann Bunch, SUNY Oswego CHE 113 62 Harper Bone/Kennedy Found the day after the assassination 25 ft. from the car path in the Plaza. QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Believed to be a parietal bone mcadams.posc.mu.edu/ harper.htm CHE 113 63 Harper Bone/Kennedy QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Believed to be a parietal bone mcadams.posc.mu.edu/ harper.htm CHE 113 64 Harper Bone - Kennedy QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. CHE 113 65 Forensic Anthropology • http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind /forensics/anthropology/1.html • http://www.forensicanthro.com/ • http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/biology/for ensics/index.shtml CHE 113 66 Forensic Anthropology Conclusions and Summary 1. General Description 2. Sex of decedent 3. Age of decedent 4. Ancestry of decedent 5. Stature of decedent 6. Assessment of trauma (ante-, peri-, post mortem) 7. Pathologies noted Exclusionary and identification evidence Class and individual evidence CHE 113 67 CHE 113 68