ANTHROPOLOGY Flashcards
define anthropology
is the study of humans, their cultures, and their biology
- Study of past and presentStudy of past and presen
what is forensic anthropolgy
is the application of the study of humans to situations of modern legal or public concern
- Collection and analysis of human skeletal remains to help
- identify victims and reconstruct events surrounding their deaths
- Focus only on skeleton systemFocus only on skeleton system
- Multidisciplinary in natureMultidisciplinary in nature
what central role does forensic anthropolgy play in?
the identification of people who are not
identifiable by fingerprints or photograph
what is biogical profile in forensic anthropolgy
Biological profiles of skeletal remains and
individualizing traits help to identify victims
what does biogical profile consist of
Biological profile consists of assessing the sex, age at death, racial affinity, height, andsex, age at death, racial affinity, height, and any other aspects that would describe theany other aspects that would describe the
individual’s class level information.
what key roles help develop a biogical profile
- Assessing skeleton for shape and sex, which allow estimate of age, sex and ancestry
- Stature of victim
- Unique healed bone figures or distortions, and dental configurations assist in constructing profile
how do you collect human remain
- Scene of remains is treated and
processed like a crime scene - Orderly, careful search that
may utilize various detectionmay utilize various detection
methods - Each bone fragment is
flagged or marked - Provides a view of the
pattern of dispersal - Context is important and bones should not be
disturbed until photographed disturbed until photographed
and documented
what is the first step in analysis of skeletal materials
First, determine if
material is really bone
- Easily determined
for whole bonesfor whole bones
- Small fragments
may requiremay require
microscopic examination or elemental analysis
what is th second step in anyalzying a bone
- determine if bone is animal or human
- Human anatomy and animal osteology answer many questions
- Comparative collection of cataloged skeletal remains is crucial
how do you estimate the amount of people found
Are there Multiple Individuals represented?
- commingled
- Focusing on long bones, skull,pelvis
- Focus on left and right bones.
how can you tell how old a person is?
Forensic anthropologists use known and
predictable skeletal changes to estimate a person age at death
- Epiphysis: uniting of certain bones
- Fusion of skull sutures
- Bone density changes
- Rib and pelvic morphology
what are estimated age ranges
- Fetal (before birth)
- Infant (0-3)
- Child (3-12)
- Adolescent (12 - 20)
- Young adult (20-35)
- Adult (35-50)
Old adult (50+)
what is the epiphyseal line
- Thin line of bony tissue
across the epiphysis - Remnant of the
epiphyseal plate
what is the epiphyseal plate
it is the growth plate
how can you tell just by the bone a person age
Appearance and fusion of the various epiphyses throughout the body indicate stage development
- Epiphysis is open
- Epiphysis is united but the junction is visible.
- Epiphysis is completely fused
- After epiphyseal union, other age indicators must be used (early 20s)
