Research in Forensic Anthropology

Question 1

What is the purpose of forensic anthropology research?

Answer 1

Expand knowledge of underpinning systems/processes behind changes we observe
Increase accuracy of our analyses
Increase admissibility and validity of the method for court

Question 2

What are two types of traditional research?

Answer 2

Based on the analysis of skeletal material using direct observations and measurements
Based on devised experiments - taphonomy,, BFT/SFT (blunt force trauma, sharp force trauma)

Question 3

What are some examples of traditional skeletal collections?

Answer 3

Terry/Todd collection
Korean war dead
Spitalfields collection - clearing christ church crypt
Coimbra or Scheuer collection

Question 4

What issues may arise from traditional research using these skeletal collections?

Answer 4

Some specimens are undocuments so not got their full background history
Issues with population and demographics
Limited population in time
Deceased specimens - can only give info on that one moment in time
Cause of deaths not known
Admissibility - can info on a past popultion tell you anything about an individual today?

Question 5

What is taphonomy?

Answer 5

The study of how organisms decay and become fossilised e.g. body farm research

Question 6

What issues may arise from using devised experiments of humans/animals? (example = body farms)

Answer 6

Your sample size is 1 so not statistically significant
You are only looking at one area and one set of parameters so can’t extrapolate
Admissibility - can the results you see on experiments with human ‘equivalents’ aka pigs/sheep be extrapolated to humans?

Question 7

What factors cause potential errors when undertaking age estimations?

Answer 7

Individual variation
Variation caused by the influence of external conditions
The method used to undertake age estimation

Question 8

Where are the body areas used for age estimation?

Answer 8

Hand/wrist
Elbow
Knee
Foot/ankle