UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY Flashcards
most lasting record of an individual’s existence because they are resistant to decay
bones and teeth
1939 the publication of Krogman’s “ Guide to the Identification of HumanSkeletal Material”
established for the first time the formal association of forensicanthropology with medicolegal identification.
provided additional opportunities for
physical anthropologists to develop techniques and skills in skeletal identification based on the need to identify American War dead for repatriation to the USA.
World War II and the Korean War
The first major textbook in forensic anthropology was published in 1962 by Krogman.
“The human skeleton in forensic medicine”
Physical Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences
pioneered by Ellis R. Kerley and Clyde Snow
14 anthropologist
from physical anthropology to just “anthropology”
1972
Board of Forensic Anthropology
for accreditation purposes
- formed largely through the leadership of Ellis R. Kerley
- 22 anthropologists
1977
the scientific study of all aspects of human development and interaction It studies tools, language, traditions, and social interactions and how we relate to other societies.
anthropology
carry out systematic studies of the-cultural aspects of humans and near-humans
- focus is on human evolution : how life forms changed through time
Biological (or physical) anthropology-
concerned with learning about human diversity, genetic inheritance patterns, non-cultural adaptations to
environmental stresses, and other biological characteristics of our
species,
human biology
carry out non-human primate studies.
Primatologists
- recover the fossil record of early humans and their primate ancestors in order to understand the path of our
evolution
Paleoanthropology
- interested in learning about the cultural aspects of human societies all over the world
- focus on social and political organizations, marriage patterns and kinship systems, subsistence and economic patterns, and religious beliefs of
different societies.
Cultural (or socio-cultural) Anthropology
study the human communication process
Linguistic Anthropology
- interested in recovering the prehistory and early history of
societies and their cultures. - involves systematic uncovering of the evidence by excavating, dating, and analyzing the material remains left by people in the past.
Archaeology
- the study of human bones
HUMAN OSTEOLOGY
the application of the sciences of human osteology and physical
anthropology to the identification of an unknown victim’s remains
(decomposed, skeletonized, burnt, mutilated or otherwise unrecognizable)
for medicolegal purposes
It’s the application of physical anthropology
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
To establish the identity of an unknown individual fromskeletonized remains or from remains that are badly decomposed, mutilated, burnt, or otherwise unidentifiable, and if possible to determine the time andcircumstances surrounding the death of the individual.
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
Primary Roles of the Forensic Anthropologist:
- Recover Human Remains
- Identify Human Remains
- Determine Approximate Time or Cause of Death
the breakdown of biological tissues into simpler compounds following the death of the organism
occurs through autolysis and putrefaction
decomposition
caused by internal enzymes ( autolysis)
Endogenous
caused by bacteria (putrefaction), insects, fungi, animal
scavengers, etc.
Exogenous
occurs in the presence of endogenous and
exogenous agents
Skeletonisation
occurs in the absence of endogenous and exogenous agents
Mummification
Stages of Skeletonisation
1. Fresh Stage
2. Early Bloat Stage
3. Late Bloat Stage
4. Early Decay Stage
5. Late Decay Stage
6. Remains Stage
7. Complete Skeletonisation Stage
Stages of Skeletonisation
1. Fresh Stage
2. Early Bloat Stage
3. Late Bloat Stage
4. Early Decay Stage
5. Late Decay Stage
6. Remains Stage
7. Complete Skeletonisation Stage
The very earliest stages of decomposition are at the cellular level
(autolysis) .The obvious changes begin with clouding of the cornea, cooling of
the body, and the appearance of rigor mortis
first stage in the process of decomposition
Hypostasis develops and results in body lividity. This is followed by
hemolysis, discoloration of the tissues, and production of gases.
second stage in the process of decomposition
Body swelling; skin marbling & blistering; softening of tissues; &characteristic putrefaction odor starts to appear. Altered body fluids start to exude from the body orifices and any breaks in the body surface. Frothiness of
the fluids indicate the presence of decomposition gases.
third stage in the process of decomposition
Tissue disintegration and liquefaction proceeds rapidly and continues until
only the harder resistant tissues remain viz. teeth, bones, cartilage, lens, hair, nails.
SURFACE DECOMPOSITION
- The rate of decomposition is very much determined by environmental factors:
the ambient temperature and humidity
invasion by necrophagous insects
the presence of clothing or other body wrapping
the degree of surface injuries or mutilation of the body
interference by rodents or other scavengers
the presence of chemicals
- In hot and humid environments, a body may be completely skeletonized within1-2 weeks.
true
- In colder and drier environments, the decomposition process is greatly
suppressed and may take many months or even years to be completed.
true
- In hot very dry conditions the body may rapidly desiccate before decompositionis well advanced resulting in mummification and preservation of dried soft tissues.
true
From the time of placement/death until the first sign of bloat.
Few blowflies are attracted.
fresh (stage of surface decomposition)
From first signs of bloat until maximum bloat.
Limited insect activity
early bloat (stage of surface decomposition)
From maximum bloat until the rupture of the abdominal wall.
Gas release attracts numerous fly species.
Advanced Bloat (stage of surface decomposition)
From first signs of abdominal rupture until numerous fly eggs present on the carcass.
Limited maggot activity around the natural orifices.
Beetles are now present on the carcass
early decay (stage of surface decomposition)
From limited maggot activity until all eggs are hatched and maggot numbers are extreme.
The carcass disintegrates rapidly.
the dominant insect species are flies and beetles
advanced decay (stage of surface decomposition)
Onset occurs when all maggots have migrated away from the carcass to pupate leaving only the bones, skin, and some soft tissue remaining.
The dominant insect species present are beetles and spiders
remains (stage of surface decomposition)
All soft tissue is removed and only bones remain.
Dominant insect species are spiders and mites.
Complete Skeletonisation
1 prevailing temperature and humidity
the physical state of the body at the time of death
thin and emaciated - skeletonize faster
well nourished - form adipocere
postmortem interval before burial
influence of a coffin
influence of clothing material
influence of embalming
the depth of interment
soil type and pH
presence of vegetable matter
access to air and insects
presence of antemortem trauma or of autopsy
FACTORS AFFECTING BURIAL DECOMPOSITION
harvard anatomy professor
helped solved the Parkman case
jeffries wyman
perpetrator in the Parkman case
dr. webster
helped in solving the Leutgert Murder case by using articular surface of lone bones in sex determination
bones were found in the sausage factory
george dorsey
father of american forensic anthropology
first to discuss how to identify skeletal remains in the book “The identification of the Human Skeleton - a medico-legal study”
first to find the need for the determination of age, sex, and stature from skeletal remains
thomas dwight
facial reconstruction using skulls
harris hawthorne wilder
founding father of physical anthropology
analyzed skeletal cases, researched, testified on issues related to ancestry, and consulted for the FBI in Washington
he reported on what may be the first attempt at cranial/photograph comparison in a legal context
ales hrdlicka
continued the casework for the fbi with both greater case and visibility
reported on 167 cases
thomas dale stewart
assumed the fbi work and reported on at least 565
received considerable media attention for this work greatly increasing public visibility for forensic anthro
j. lawrence angel
new stature formulae
trotter and gleser
essentials of forensic anthropology
stewart
age changes in the pubic bone
wingate todd
led by Dr. Baccino
sponsors workshops on general forensic anthropology as well as those devoted to more advance specialized topics
forensic anthropology society of europe (2003)
- bringing together practicing anthropologists from diverse organizations
- offers certification programs involving education
latin american association of forensic anthropology (2003)
