Exam 1 Flashcards
(122 cards)
what is forensic anthropology?
applied subdiscipline of biological anthropology, used in problems of medico-legal significance
What is the use of Forensic Anthropology
to assess age, sex, stature, geographic ancestery to analyze trauma and disease from human remains
qualifications of a forensic anthropologist (osteologist)
Ph.D or MA in anth
employed by university or lab (FBI, private firms)
to determine identity of remains
qualifications of a pathologist
trained medical doctor
MD, residency in pathology
performs autopsies
establish cause of death
odontology
dental
evaluating bitemarks
aging skeletal remains
Mirco analysis
trace evidence (residues, hair, fabric, glass, soils)
DNA analysis
specific segments that vary between people to create DNA profile
Johann Friedrich Bluemenback (1752-1840)
early pioneer of physical anthropology. Interested in identifying racial ground (mostly using skulls)
Formative Period
1800s-1938, Early Forensic Pioneers
Paul Revere (1735-1818)
ameteur dentist
identified body of officer by his ivory dentures
Jefferies Wyman and Oliver Wendall Holmes
Parkman murder (1849)
used in court to identify remains of a Harvard professor
identified teeth, specialized dentures
Thomas Dwight
father of american forensic anth
set up 1sh osteology program at Harvard
Ales Hrdlicka and Earnest Hooton
worked with the FBI
showed it was important for authorities
T.Wingate Todd
Hamann-Todd collection of human and primate skeletons
many from the World Wars
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Ruxton Murder Case (Bodies under the Bridge)
known for efforts to reassemble bodies
early use of photo superposition to identify badly decomposed remains
Consolidation Period
1939-1971
1939 Guide to the Identification of Human Skeleton Material by Wilton Marion Krogman
T. Dale Steward
founder of Modern Forensic Anthropology
identify war remains (WWII and Korean War)
lead to establishment of central identification lab in Hawaii
Molecular Analysis of skeletal remains
improved techniques for recovery and analysis
identify sex, eye hair and skin color
can give positive ID
can help with georaphical ancestry
drawbacks on molecular analysis of skeltal evidence
destructive technique, most DNA is too degraded to be useful
CODIS-FBI
combined DNA index system, list of people who have committed crimes
familial DNA
in some states, public DNA is available (ancestory.com, 23andme)
finds someone related to the suspect
first used in 1987 in the UK (Colin Pitchfork murders)
migrant identification
global migration increasing, and some countries do not keep ID
requires international cooperation
decomposition research
Bass’s book about cycle of decomposition
body farms
body farms
experimentation and monitoring the process of decomposition under different conditions