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1. International Journal of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.2, No.7, July 2014
E-ISSN: 2321-9637
155
Identification Marks: Biological and Psychological
Dynamics
Vijeta Choudhary1 and Anup Kumar Kapoor2
Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007. 1NN Research Fellow, 2Professor
Email: choudharyvijeta31@gmail.com 1 anupkapoor46@rediffmail.com2
Abstract-The In the advent of identification, personal identities have been based on highly diverse notions such
as religion, rank, class, estate, gender, ethnicity, race, nationality, politics and civility. Identification marks play
an important role while identifying a person. The various identification marks like moles, scars, tattoo, birth
marks, deformities, polydactyly and dimple with their location on different sites of the body, shape, size, and
colour of marks were taken into consideration. The data was collected on three population groups namely
Muslim, Machhi and Patels of Daman and diu, western India. A total of 600 samples were collected
representing 300 males and 300 females, age ranges from 13 to 60 years. It has been observed that moles, scars,
and tattoo marks are considered as important identification marks in all the population groups. The present study
also focuses on the interrelationship between socio-psychological and biological dynamics among the
populations. The present study attempted to expand the forensic anthropological dimensions for identification
purposes as it can incorporate unique and powerful methods to serve its original goals i.e. identification. Few
suggestions have also been given.
Key words: Identification Marks, Identification
1. INTRODUCTION
In the advent of identification, personal identities have
been based on highly diverse notions such as religion,
rank, class, estate, gender, ethnicity, race, nationality,
politics and civility. Identification marks play an
important role while identifying a person.
According to Fisher (2000), Physical evidence is any
type of evidence having an objective existence, that is,
anything with size, shape, and dimension. Further,
physical evidence is used to “reconstruct the crime,
identify participants, or confirm or discredit an alibi”.
According to Geberth (1996), just like blood spatter
or a discarded weapon at a crime scene, a lesion on a
humerus that was used to determine the identity of an
individual or a cut mark on a rib suggestive of the
circumstances of death constitute evidence. Similarly,
mole, scars, birthmarks, deformities, or tattoo marks
may be a determining factor in identification process
of a person.
According to Cole & Shiel, (2012), congenital moles
are moles present at birth and so, develop during fetal
development. The genes we inherit from our parents,
is the major factor in determining the number of
moles that one develop on their body.
According to Modi (1977), a scar is the product of
healing of a wound by fibrosis & cicatrisation. All
scars, in the true sense of their histological and
morphological are permanent which may change in
their size during the growing ages but their shapes
remain unchanged all throughout the life. These
permanent patterns of scars on the skin, on the body
through wound (by cut, accident or surgery) can be
used to identify a person.
According to Mark Taylor (1997), tattoo being the
symbol of the ‘postmodern primitive’ and as a cultural
abandonment of the centuries of resistance to
‘primitive desires’ and ‘savage impulses’. He
highlights the use of tattoos as fashion to play at being
pre-fashion and tribal (group identity). Traditional
Polynesian tattooists punctured the skin by tapping a
needle with a small hammer, the Japanese work by
hand but with bundles of needles set in wooden
handles, and Prisoners have used materials as
disparate as guitar strings and reconstructed electric
shavers to create tattoos (Schildkrout, 1999). Tattoo
on body takes on specific meanings in different
cultures or ethnic groups. Besides being decorative,
tattoos can serve the means of identification. Different
groups and cultures have used a variety of techniques
in this process. Since the late 19th century, the electric
tattoo machine and related technological advances in
equipment have revolutionized expanding the range of
possible designs, the colours available, and the ease
with which a tattoo can be applied to the body.
According to Redett (2009), if either parent has a cleft
lip / palate or isolated cleft palate but no affected
children, the risk of having any other children with a
cleft is 5%. If more than one of the parents & or
children have a cleft, the risk for future offspring is
greater.
Materials and Methods: The present study was
conducted among Muslim, Machhi and Patels of
Daman & Diu, India. To collect the data, a schedule
2. International Journal of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.2, No.7, July 2014
E-ISSN: 2321-9637
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was prepared with socio-psychological details of
subjects along with different identification marks i.e.
moles, scars, tattoo, birthmarks, deformities, extra
fingers and extra toes and dimple with their location
on body, shape, size, colour etc. Results were
evaluated through softwares SPSS 17. Muslims are
divided into 3 sects called Siya, Sunni, and Pathan.
These sects are divided into different sub-castes.in the
present study, Sunni was taken into consideration.
Machhi is a fishing community of Daman & Diu.
These are divided into different sub-castes i.e. Tandel,
Mitna, and Mangela etc. Mitna and Tandel were
considered for the present study. Machhi is the
endogamous group but exogamy is not incest. Patel of
Daman claim to be descendent of Rajput. They have
migrated from the Gujarat and speak Guajarati
language. They are non-vegetarian group.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Table-1 presents the frequency of identification marks
on population groups namely Muslim, Machhi, and
Patels. Sample size for Muslim is 240 (male &
female), Machhi 240 (male & female) and Patels 120
(male & female). In the present study eight
identification marks have been taken into
consideration i.e. moles, scars, birthmarks, tattoo
marks, deformities and dimple. It has been observed
that moles have been noticed very important
Identification marks in all the population groups i.e.
Muslim, Machhi, and Patels. Highest frequencies of
having moles on their body have been found among
Patels males i.e. 75%, than Muslim male with 60.8%.
Lowest frequency of moles has been found among
Machhi males i.e. 57.5%. Considering females of all
the three population groups, highest frequency of
moles have been found among Patels and Machhi
with 96.7% & 79.2 %. Lowest moles were found
among females of Muslim i.e. 65.8%. Second
important identification mark is the scar. Highest
frequencies of having scars on their body have been
found among Patels males i.e. 71.7%, than Machhi
male 61.7%. Lowest frequency of scars has been
found among Muslim males i.e. 51.7%. Seeing
females of all the three population groups, highest
frequency of scars have been found among Patels and
Machhi with 68.3% & 55.8 %. Lowest scars were
found among females of Muslim i.e. 37.5%. Third
important identification mark was found tattoo.
Highest frequencies of having tattoo on their body
have been found among Machhi males i.e.15.8%, than
Machhi male 5%. Lowest frequency of tattoo has
been found among Muslim males i.e. 4.2%. Among
all the three population groups, tattoo has been found
present in Machhi females with 10%. No tattoo was
found among females of Muslim and Patels.
Birthmarks have noticed with very low frequency in
Muslim and Machhi (males) with 1.6% & 1.7%
respectively. While females of Muslim, Machhi and
Patels were observed with frequencies 2.5%, 2.5%
and 3.3% respectively. There was no indication of
birthmark among males of Patels. No deformities
were found among Machhi, Patels and Muslim male.
0.8 % deformities were observed in Muslim females,
it may be due to congenity. Dimples were present
among all the three population groups and the
percentage varies from 13.3% -21.7% (in males)
while in females 21.7% - 25%.
Table-2 presents the location of identification marks
on different body sites among males and females of
Muslims of Daman and Diu. It has been observed that
highest 24.5% of moles have been found on face
followed by back of arm with 9.3% and forearm with
8.4% among Muslim males. In Muslim females
maximum moles were found on face with 19.4%
followed by neck with 16.6%, upper arm & thigh with
11.1% .Highest 46.1% of scars have been found on
knees followed by hand with 23.1% and head 15.4%
among Muslim males. In Muslim females maximum
scars were found on forehead and knees with 25%
followed by face, upper arm, chest, waist, thigh and
foot with 8.3% each. Birthmarks have been located on
hand i.e. 100% among Muslim males. In Muslim
females, birthmarks have been found on face with
25% and buttock region with 75%. All the Tattoo has
been found among males on hand with 100% while
females also have noticed without tattoo on their
body.
Table-3 displays the distribution of identification
marks on different body sites in males and females of
Machhi group. It has been observed that highest
23.2% of moles have been found on face followed by
upper arm with 8.0%, hand 7.2% and chest (up to
nipples) among Machhi males. In Machhi females
maximum moles were found on face with 37.4%
followed by upper arm with 7.11% and neck &
forearm with 6.45%. Highest 21.97% of scars have
been found on knees followed by face with 18.68%
and foot 14.29% among Machhi males. In Machhi
females maximum scars were found on knees with
26.58% followed by back of leg with 13.92% and face
with 12.65%. Birthmarks have been located on hand
i.e. 100% among Machhi males. In Machhi females,
birthmarks have been found on face with 33.33% and
buttock region with 66.77%. Tattoo has been found
among males on forearm with 78.95% and hand with
4.00% while females also have noticed with
maximum tattoo on forearm with 76.92% followed by
hand with 23.08%.
Table-4 displays the distribution of identification
marks on different body sites in males and females of
Patel group. It has been observed that highest 32.95%
of moles have been found on face followed by upper
arm with 11.36%, thighs 7.95% and chest 7.95% (up
to nipples) among Patel males. In Patel females
maximum moles were found on face with 23.02%
3. International Journal of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.2, No.7, July 2014
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followed by upper arm with 14.39% and hand with
13.66%. Maximum scars i.e. 21.83% have been
found on face & knees followed by upper arm with
14.58% and forehead 12.50% among Patel males. In
Patel females maximum scars were found on knees
with 36% followed by face with 12% and forehead
with 10%. Birthmarks have been located on face i.e.
100% among Patel males while in Patel females,
birthmarks have been found on thighs region with
100%. Maximum Tattoo has been found on forearm
with 75% among Patel males followed by neck with
25% .No indication of tattoo has been noticed on Patel
females.
Table-5 displays the psychological perception about
moles among three population group of Daman and
Diu i.e. Muslim, Machhi and Patel. 99.2% Muslim
and 93.33% Machhi females were found to think that
moles do not look good on body especially on face.
1.6% Machhi male agreed on the same opinion as the
Muslim and Machhi females had. All the Muslim &
Patel males and Patel females, 98.3% Machhi males,
6.66% Machhi females and 0.8% Muslim females
have not been found any kind of perception about
moles on their body.98.3% Muslim and 8.3% Machhi
females were found to think that moles do not look
good on body especially on face. 0.8% Machhi male
agreed on the same opinion as the Muslim and
Machhi females had. All the Muslim & Patel males
and Patel females, 99.2% Machhi males, 91.7%
Machhi females and 1.7% Muslim females have not
been found any kind of perception about birthmarks
on their body. 0.8% Muslim male with 3.3% Muslim
females and 0.8% Machhi females were found to
think that scars do not look good on body. 0.8%
Muslim male perceived that having scars on body
does not matter. 98.3% Muslim male with 96.7%
Muslim females, all Patel males with Patel females
and all Machhi male and 99.2% Machhi females have
not been found any kind of perception about scars on
their body.97.6% Muslim males and 99.2% Muslim
females strongly agreed that tattooing is prohibited in
Islam. 0.8% Muslim males and 0.8% females were
found to think that tattooing on body does not matter
for male or males are allowed to get tattoo. 0.8%
Muslim male had agreed that getting tattoo on their
body depends on their choice. 11.7 % Machhi male
with 5% females and 8.3% Patel males with 1.7%
females had a perception that getting tattoo is not
good for health. 62.5 % Machhi male with 70.8%
females and 66.7% Patel males with 91.7% females
disliked the getting tattoo on their body. 5.0% Machhi
females and 15% Patel males with 6.7% females liked
the getting tattoo on their body but their parents do
not like tattooing. 22.5 % Machhi male with 19.2%
females and 10% Patel males liked the getting tattoo
as a fashion statement. 0.8% Muslim male also liked
the getting tattoo as a fashion statement but agreed
that view that it is Islam prohibited. 7.5% Machhi
male liked to get tattoo on their body.
CONCLUSION:
This new approach originates as an unanticipated
theory, or as an attempt to expand the forensic
anthropological dimensions for identification
purposes. It exudes from current forensic practice and
is the natural consequence of the evolution of the
field, as it can incorporate unique and powerful
methods to serve its original goals i.e. identification.
From the present study, it is interesting to note that
females think that moles or scars should note be on
face but actually maximum percentage of moles and
scars were found on face. So, this paper has described
a procedure for generating novel approach to identify
a person.
On one hand, it produces plausible sets of bodily
marks among different ethnic groups while on the
other hand it determines the location of different
identification marks which can be used in
identification. This fruitful combination offers broader
lessons for modelling for anthropo-forensic purpose.
In particular, it serves a means to scale up variation
among different population groups. The present study
also opens up to study inheritance pattern of various
identification marks as there is no study reported so
far in the literature world.
4. International Journal of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.2, No.7, July 2014
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Table-1 Showing the Identification marks among Three Population Group of Daman and Diu
Caste
Group
Sex Sample
size
Variables
Moles Scars Tattoo Birthmarks Deformities Extra
Teeth
Dimple
N % N % N % N % N % N % N %
Muslim M 120 73 60.8 62 51.7 5 4.2 2 1.66 - - - - 16 13.3
F 120 79 65.8 45 37.5 - - 3 2.5 1 0.8 - - 30 25
Machhi M 120 69 57.5 74 61.7 19 15.8 2 1.7 - - - - 17 14.2
F 120 95 79.2 67 55.8 12 10 3 2.5 - - - - 27 22.5
Patel M 60 45 75 43 71.7 3 5 - - - - - - 13 21.7
F 60 58 96.7 41 68.3 - - 2 3.3 - - - - 15 25
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Table-5: Showing perception about Identification Marks of population group of Daman & Diu
Identification marks Psychological perception Muslim Machhi Patel
m (%) f (%) m (%) f (%) m (%) f (%)
Scars nothing 74.6 52.2 76.5 82.8 21.4 24.8
does not matter 6.8 6.5 2.9 3.4 3.2 0.9
it is natural & due to accident,
so ok.
3.4 21.7 5.9 - 1.6 2.8
it should not be present 5.1 4.3 4.4 1.7 73.8 11
helpful in identification 1.7 2.2 1.5 3.4 - 9.2
its different in everyone 1.7 10.9 7.4 6.9 - 15.6
i dont like them 5.1 2.2 1.5 1.7 - 35.8
not good for health 1.7 52.2 - - - 2.8
Tattoo nothing 11.90 39.10 13.20 13.80 20.60 3.70
it is fashion 62.70 17.40 63.20 67.20 1.60 33.90
its everyone choice 3.40 4.30 2.90 5.20 - 20.20
its not good for health 15.30 21.70 13.20 8.60 77.00 0.90
i dont like 6.80 17.40 7.40 5.20 0.80 11.90
i like it but parents does not
allow it
- - - - - 29.40
Birthmarks nothing 13.6 39.1 16.2 17.2 94.4 13.8
does not matter 1.7 10.9 5.9 5.2 .8 31.2
it does not look good 5.1 17.4 61.8 65.5 1.6 .9
helpful in identification 62.7 10.9 4.4 3.4 .8 33.0
i dont like them 5.1 19.6 10.3 6.9 2.4 2.8
its natural 10.2 39.1 16.2 17.2 94.4 13.8
9. International Journal of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.2, No.7, July 2014
E-ISSN: 2321-9637
Male Mole Scar Tattoo
Muslim =24.5% =46.1% = 100%
Machhi =23.2% = 21.97 % =78.9%
Patel =32.9% =20.8% =75.0 %
Female Mole Scar Tattoo
Muslim =19.4% =25% = 0%
Machhi =37.4% = 26.5 % =76.9%
Patel =23.02% =36% =0%
163
MALE FEMALE
The above picture shows the maximum frequency of
various identification marks which has been found on
males and females in three population groups. The
minimum frequency of other identification marks has
been presented in paper but not on photograph of
male and female.
REFERENCES
[1] Cole, W. Gary and Shiel, C. William, (2012):
What causes moles, and what are risk factors for
developing moles. Medicine net health.com
[2] Gilbert, B. M., and T. W. McKern. 1973. A
method for aging the female os pubis. American
Journal of Physical Anthropology 38:31–38.
[3] Fisher, J. A., (2000): Tattooing the Body,
Marking Culture. Body and Society Vol. 8 No. 4
[4] E. Schildkrout (1999): body art as visual
language. Displayed at exhibition in American
Museum of Natural History New York from 29,
1999 through May 29, 2000.
[5] Taylor, M.C. (1997) :Hiding. Chicago, IL:
University of Chicago Press.
[6] Modi N.J. 1977: Modi’s textbook of Medical
Jurisprudence and Toxicology. 20th Ed. Tripathi
Pvt. Ltd., Bombay.
[7] Redett, R. J., (2009): A study on Deformities –
cleft lip & palate. www.google.com
