Forensic Anthropology Defined:



Forensic Anthropology Defined

Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology to the legal process. The identification of skeletal, badly decomposed, or otherwise unidentified human remains is important for both legal and humanitarian reasons. Forensic anthropologists apply standard scientific techniques developed in physical anthropology to identify human remains, and to assist in the detection of crime. Forensic anthropologists frequently work in conjunction with forensic pathologists, odontologists, and homicide investigators to identify a decedent, discover evidence of foul play and/or the postmortem interval. In addition to assisting in locating and recovering suspicious remains, forensic anthropologists work to suggest the age, sex, ancestry, stature, and unique features of a decedent from the skeleton.

Forensic Anthropology in General

Anthropology: the study of humankinds, culturally and physically, in all times and places.

Forensic Anthropology: the application of anthropological knowledge and techniques in a legal context. This involves detailed knowledge of osteology (skeletal anatomy and biology) to aid in the identification and cause of death of skeletal remains, as well as the recovery of remains using archaeological techniques.

A Forensic Anthropologist is just one type of Forensic Scientist. There are many types of Forensic specialists. A Criminalist examines the physical evidence of a crime. A Forensic Pathologist is a Medical Doctor who specializes in disease (pathology is the study of disease), these are the specialists who perform autopsies. For more detailed information on other types of Forensic science, see the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Career Brochure:

Working in Forensic Anthropology

What degree do I need to become a Forensic Anthropologist?

A forensic anthropologist usually has a PhD degree in Physical/Biological Anthropology.

What electives should I take in college?

Of course you will need to take human osteology (skeletal biology) and various other anthropology courses. Outside of your anthropology courses, coursework in the fields of chemistry, anatomy, biology, statistics, and criminology, would all aid in training you to be a forensic anthropologist.

Where should I go to school?

Selecting a graduate program in Forensic Anthropology really comes down tot deciding what you plan to focus on. Do you want to be an osteologist, concerned with primarily anthropological issues, or do you want to be a crime scene investigator or pathologist? It is best if you know this early. Ideally, a Forensic Anthropologist is a Biological Anthropologist first, trained in all aspects of anthropology, a holistic field. Secondly, such an anthropologist who decides to specialize in forensics has had additional training and experience in forensic science. It is a rare case to see a job advertisement for a Forensic Anthropologist – Universities will post positions for a Physical Anthropologist and possibly ask for a specialty like skeletal biology or primatology. I have yet to see a job posting for a Criminologist with experience in skeletal biology. Think of it this way – the hardest elements in the human body are those most likely to withstand destruction and to be found as clues – these elements are the teeth. If a crime scene investigator finds teeth he will most likely call a Forensic Dentist.

Many departments are beginning to focus mainly on Cultural Anthropology and the Physical Anthropologists are moving into other departments such as biology departments (as has happened at UC Berkeley and the University of Arizona). Another issue for Physical Anthropology students focusing on osteology is that many departments are losing their osteological collections as universities and museums repatriate under NAGPRA. If such a trend continues, such students may need to change their focus, or plan to attend a university abroad.

“Sherlock Bones”

Forensic Anthropology was established as a certified science by the FBI in the 1930s. These experts, sometimes jokingly referred to as “Sherlock Bones,” regularly use their understanding of the structure and function of the body in their work. Forensic anthropologists prefer to work with complete skeletons, but often only have access to individual bones or teeth. A complete skeleton can reveal a great deal about the once-living individual: physical characteristics, health lifestyle, habits, injuries, and even cause of death.

When unidentified human bones are located, they are carefully packaged and sent to the laboratory of the forensic anthropologist. These experts attempt to develop a detailed bone and dental record from the remains. Size and shape of certain bones can indicate the age, sex, height, and build of an individual at the time of death. The forensic anthropologist carefully examines the bones and records all the information he or she can gather from a visual examination. The X-rays are used to get a closer look at the condition of the bones.

Head and Hips

The sex of the unknown individual can often be determined by viewing the cranium and pelvic bones. Length of arm and leg bones can be used to calculate the height of the human. Deviations in a bone, such as a lipping at the end of the upper leg bone, indicate that the individual may have been an elderly person with arthritis (inflammation of the joints). Indentations in teeth often indicate the presence of a dental filling at one time. A comparison of the location and shape of these fillings may eventually be matched to the dental records of an individual.

TEACHER NOTES AND KEY FOR LAB 4-7, MISSING PERSONS

➢ Students need about 50 minutes to complete this lab.

➢ Using a black felt-tip pen or marker, trace three copies of Exhibit A onto three large pieces of tracing paper. Paste these to three different pieces of cardboard and tape them in several locations in the room. Students will measure these copies of the exhibit with a metric ruler.

➢ If your students have some difficulty working math equations, you may want to do a sample problem with them.

Answers to Crime Scene Report

2. Exhibit A humerus is 25.3 cm in length.

| | | | |

|Missing person |Height (feet and |Height (cm) |Calculated length of humerus |

| |inches) | |(cm) |

|Bill Boston |5’ 11” |180.34 |37.958 |

|Jane Caldwell |5’ 5” |165.10 |33.555 |

|Ernest Bass |5’ 6” |167.64 |33.564 |

|Jill James |4’ 10” |14732 |27.183 |

|Gary Burnes |6’ 10” |208.28 |47.626 |

|Lily Walker |5’ 9” |175.26 |37.197 |

|Mary Zimmerman |4’ 8” |142.24 |25.360 |

|Billy Jenkins |6’ 2” |187.96 |40.595 |

|Jessie Agan |6’ 0” |182.88 |38.837 |

|Gladys Thomas |5’ 7” |170.18 |35.376 |

|Don Harris |5’ 7” |170.18 |34.443 |

|Lenny Aires |6’ 4” |193.04 |42.353 |

3.

4. Female

5. Estimated height of owner is 4’ 8”

6. Yes, the owner appears to be Mary Zimmerman.

7. Group measurements should mathematically prove that humerus length does indicate height of stature.

MISSING PERSONS

A Lab on Forensic Anthropology

Objective

You will identify a missing person by using the humerus bone length to find the height of that individual.

Background Information

Last week 12 families received letters from the Federal Bureau of Investigation stating that a human humerus, the upper arm bone, had washed ashore on nearby Seagull Beach. The FBI letter said that it is likely that this upper arm bone belonged to one of 12 missing persons in the area who have never been discovered.

The life insurance policies that covered these 12 individuals have not yet paid the beneficiaries. These polices cannot be paid until proof of the missing person’s death has been confirmed. Many of these families are in desperate need of this financial assistance. Most of the families believe their loved one was murdered.

The length of the upper arm bone can be used to determine the actual height of its owner. For this reason, each of the 12 families has been asked to provide information about the height of their loved one. The members of the crime lab will compare the height of each missing person with the projected height of the individual to whom the humerous belonged. A crime lab report will be sent to the proper insurance company if a match is found for the humerus bone.

Materials

Ruler, or tape measure

Calculator

Exhibit A – humerus diagram

Procedure

1. Exhibit A is a life-size sketch of the upper arm bone that washed up on Seagull Beach. You and your team of experts will determine the owner of the humerus

2. Measure the length of the arm bone in centimeters. Record the length of the humerus on your Crime Report Sheet.

3. The families of the 12 missing persons have provided information regarding the height of their missing family member to the FBI. Their information is provided on the Data Table. Convert their heights to centimeters. Remember that 2.54cm equals 1 inch.

4. Use the following formulas to determine whether or not the humerus bone could have belonged to one of these missing persons. Record this information on the Data Table.

The formula for males and females is different:

Height of male in cm = (Length of humerus bone in cm) x (2.89) + 70.64

Height of female in cm = (Length of humerus bone in cm) x (2.79) + 71.48

5. On the Crime Report Sheet indicate the owner of Exhibit A.

Forensic Science Name:__________________________________

Pd______ Date ______________________

Crime Report Sheet

1. Name of Investigators:

Date of Investigation:

2. Results of Investigation: Length of Exhibit A Humerus: cm

DATA TABLE

3.

| | | | |

|Missing person |Height (feet and |Height (cm) |Calculated length of humerus (cm) |

| |inches) | | |

|Bill Boston |5’ 11” | | |

|Jane Caldwell |5’ 5” | | |

|Ernest Bass |5’ 6” | | |

|Jill James |4’ 10” | | |

|Gary Burnes |6’ 10” | | |

|Lily Walker |5’ 9” | | |

|Mary Zimmerman |4’ 8” | | |

|Billy Jenkins |6’ 2” | | |

|Jessie Agan |6’ 0” | | |

|Gladys Thomas |5’ 7” | | |

|Don Harris |5’ 7” | | |

|Lenny Aires |6’ 4” | | |

4. Is the owner male or female? _________________________

5. Estimated height of the owner of the humerus bone:__________________

6. Is one of the 12 missing persons a possible owner? ______

7. Name of probable owner:_________________________________________________________

8. To prove to the insurance company that this formula works, find the height in cm of each person in

your investigative team. Then measure the length of each person’s humerus. Use your

calculations to show that humerus bone length can be used to determine height.

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