sign in sign up
<<
Home , Human mouth

Forensic Archaeology & Forensic Anthropology ADJ14 Advanced Criminal Investigations Anthropology & Archaeology

´ Anthropology is the study of the biological and cultural aspects of all humans in all places in all times. ´ Archaeology is the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. Introduction to Forensic Archaeology & Forensic Anthropology

´ Forensic Anthropology is the field of study that deals with the analysis of human skeletal remains resulting from unexplained deaths. Experts in the discipline, because of their understanding of skeletal biology, examine human with the goal of extracting information about persons represented by skeletal remains and circumstances surrounding death (Byers, 2011). ´ Forensic Archaeology is a subfield of forensic anthropology, and forensic archaeology is the forensic application of archaeological techniques. Archaeology is the study of humans, both modern and ancient. Specifically, forensic archeologists perform the controlled recovery of human remains and other evidence at forensic scenes. Proper archeological procedures generally require significant time and attention to detail, and so the process may seem rather slow to investigators. However, the end result of this effort is the ability to exactly reconstruct the entire scene as it appeared before excavation (Nawracki, 1996). Forensic Anthropology

´ Forensic anthropologists attempt to accomplish 5 main objectives in their work: ① When soft has deteriorated to the point that demographic characteristics of a body cannot be determined by visual inspection, they attempt to determine ancestry, sex, age, and living height from the skeleton. ② When there is evidence of traumatic injury (bullet holes, stab wounds, fractures) to human , forensic anthropologists attempt to identify the nature of the traumas and their causative agent pertaining to cause and manner of death. ③ Rendering a determination of the postmortem interval. ④ Assist in locating and recovering buried or surface remains in such a manner that all evidence relevant to the forensic investigation is collected. ⑤ Can provide information useful in obtaining positive identifications of deceased persons. Human Osteology & Odontology

´ All forensic anthropologists must be fully knowledgeable in human osteology and, to a lesser extent, odontology. ´ Human osteology is the study of the bones of the skeleton, including names, placement, articulations, visible features, etc. ´ Odontology is the study of dentition; this entails the recognitio of the deciduous (baby) and permanent teeth, as well as placement in the , major features, and variations. ´ The knowledge must be so extensive that not only can complete skeletons and dental arcades be analyzed for information concerning the decedent, but also skeletons with missing and fragmented bones as well as incomplete dentitions and damaged teeth recognized as human. Human Osteology & Odontology

´ Bones and teeth contain many indicators of the basic demographic characteristics of persons. ´ Sex of individuals can be attributed from traits visible on the . ´ and long bones can also determine sex. ´ A skeleton also contains features that can be used to evaluate ancestry and age at death, as well as living height. The

´ The adult human skeleton ordinarily composed of 206 bones. ´ Each bone in the body is given a name as well as a side designation (if paired). (e.g., right , left humerus). ´ Some bones and skeletal structures are actually aggregations of a number of smaller bones; for example, the is composed of 8 separate bones, the skull has 22. ´ With the exception of one bone (the hyoid) all bones connect to, or articulate with, at least one other bone. ´ The standard used in describing the skeleton is the anatomical position.

Anatomical Position

´ Position of the body, either standing or lying, with the arranged straight along the side and the palms of the facing forward. ´ Legs are extended straight, feet arranged as though they were flat on the ground. ´ There is nomenclature for anatomical (also called cardinal) directions and planes, which are used in investigation discussion relating to skeletons and deceased bodies. Cardinal Directions & Planes

Cardinal Directions

Superior (Cranial) Up; point or region lying above another point or region

Inferior (Caudal) Down; point or region lying below another point or region

Medial Point or region lying closest to midline of the body

Lateral Point or region lying away from midline of the body

Anterior (Ventral) Front; point or region lying closest to front of body

Posterior (Dorsal) Back; point or region lying closest to back of body

Proximal Point closest to an articular point with body

Distal Point farthest from an articular point with body

Anatomical Planes

Frankfort Plane that aligns the lower border of the eye with the upper border of the opening; also called the Frankfort Horizon Sagittal Plane; cutting through the body from front to back (divides into left/right halves)

Coronal Plane; at right angles to the sagittal plane, divides body in front and back halves

Transverse Plane that divides the body at the into upper and lower sections

Skeletal Division

´ The skeleton can be divided into 2 areas for ease of study: ´ Cranial ´ Postcranial. ´ Because of its complexity, the cranial skeleton is often studied as a separate unit. This includes: ´ The skull, ´ The (lower ) ´ Ear . ´ The postcranium (all bones below the skull) is divided into two segments: ´ The axial skeleton and (bones making up the & cage) ´ The appendicular skeleton (bones of the arms, legs, , and pelvis)

Cranial Skeleton

´ The skull is composed of 22 outwardly visible bones (3 ear ossicles on each side that cannot be seen easily). ´ Except for the lower jaw, these articular tightly at suture lines, so there is little movement between adjacent bones. ´ Cranium is divided into 4 topical areas: ´ (1) Bones that make up the cranial skeleton and the various prominences and other features visible on their exterior surface ´ (2) Sutures, which separate the bones ´ (3) Landmarks on the cranium ´ (4) Various sinuses within bones of the skull Cranial Skeleton Cranial Skeleton

´ A small U-shaped bone suspended in the at the same level as the inferior edge of the mandible. In young individuals, it is composed of 3 segments which fuse later in life. ´ Hyoid bone fractures occur within 1/3rd of homicides by strangulation (manual, ligature, or hanging ). Absence of a hyoid fracture does not rule out homicide or suicide. ´ Size of decedent, age, nature and magnitude of force, nature of instrument all are variables in potential fracture or lack of fracture. Vertebrae

´ 3 types of vertebrae are defined by their location in the spine: ´ Cervical ´ Thoracic ´ Lumbar ´ The cervical vertebrae are the top 7 bones in the spinal column ´ The middle of the vertebral column is usually composed of 12 thoracic vertebrae ´ The lumbar vertebrae are the 5 bottom bones of the spinal column, above the sacrum.

Upper Limbs Overview of Human Dentition

´ All forensic anthropologists must have a basic knowledge of human dentition to properly perform their work. Knowledge must include an understanding of dental , ability to recognize types and placement of teeth, understanding of how dentition develops, and awareness of variations within teeth. ´ The basic anatomy of a tooth can be seen in the picture: Overview of Human Dentition

´ The basic anatomy of a tooth: ´ Crown – part visible above the gum; covered in white enamel ´ Where crown meets the rest of the tooth is the neck ´ Root – part of the tooth embedded in the jaw; secured by a ligament ´ The root and crown covered by enamel made up of bonelike material called dentin. ´ Occlusal – refers to the surface of teeth.

Summary - Osteology

1. Adult human skeleton normally composed of 206 bones. 2. A number of cardinal directions and planes simplify the process of examining the . 3. Important features of the skull include the bones, the sutures that separate these bones, landmarks (used to identify various points and regions on the skull), and the sinuses found within various bones. 4. The axial skeleton is composed of the hyoid, the vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, and 5 lumbar), the (12 on each side), the , the right and left scapulae and , and the pelvis. 5. The pelvis is composed of 4 bones: right and left ossa coxae, the sacrum, and the coccyx. 6. Upper limbs composed of 3 paired long bones: humeri, ulnae, and radii 7. Lower limbs composed of 3 paired long limb bones: femora, tibiae, and fibulae, kneecaps (patellae) and and , , and . 8. 4 types of teeth in the human mouth: , canines, , and molars.