1. FORENSIC
ANTHROPOLOGY
SPRING 2011
Prof. Nathan Whitley-Grassi

2. What do Forensic Anthropologists
do?
 Use anthropological knowledge to assist the
process of law.
 This often involves assisting law enforcement in
identifying skeletal remains.
 Identify specific characteristics that can be used to
identify human remains.
 Age and stature
 Time since death
 Gender
 Evidence of Trauma or Pathology
 Distinguishing traits

3. How does Forensic Anthropology
Work?
 Osteology
 Bones
 Odontology
 Teeth
 Morphometrics
 Measurements

4. Forensic Anthropology in the
Media

5. Forensic Anthropology in the
Media
Anthropologists do not Anthropologists do usually do
usually do the following: the following
 Run DNA tests  Assist with collection
of human remains
 Analyze blood
 Cleans bones
spatter
 Analyzes skeletal
 Conduct autopsies material
 Analyze ballistics  Examines trauma and
 Collect trace pathology to bone
evidence  Testifies in court

6. Tools of the Forensic
Anthropologist

7. Tools of the Forensic
Anthropologist
 Palpate
 Toexamine or
explore by touching
(an organ or area of
the body), usually as
a diagnostic aid

8. Introduction:
 The problem of the unidentified
 Violence and Forensic Anthropology
 Identification

9. Education Requirements:
 Requires a post graduate degree in
physical, biological or forensic anthropology.
 Many have additional training in human
biology, anatomy, medicine, nursing or
dentistry.
 On the Job training!
 Constant personal research
 Preferred: PhD.

11. Objectives of an
Anthropological Investigation:
 Identification
 Determination or cause and manner of death
 Estimation of time since death
 Collection of physical evidence
 Anthropologist – Physical/Biological
 Focus on skeletonized remains
 Anthropologist – Archeologist
 Recovery of evidence

12. Forensic Anthropology
CHE 113
12
Goal: Biological Profile
Includes:
1. General Description
2. Sex of decedent
3. Age of decedent
4. Ancestry of decedent
5. Stature of decedent
6. Assessment of trauma
(ante-, peri-, post mortem)
7. Pathologies noted

13. Osteology: study of skeletal
remainsach bone studied INDIVIDUALLY
CHE 113
13 E
206 Skeletal Bones (total)

14. Personal Identification:
 Are they Human?
 One or more than one individual?
 Description? (sex, age, stature, race,
handedness)
 Unique traits? (abnormaity, prostheses,
remodeling)
 Who is it? Or at least Who ISN’T it?

15. Circumstances of Death:
 When did it occur?
 Where did it occur? (Here or moved)
 Was the grave disturbed?
 Buried more than once?
 Cause of death?
 (gun shot, stabbing, asphyxia)
 Manner of death?
 (Suicide, homicide, accident, natural)

16. Cause v. Manner of Death:
Cause of Death Manner of Death
 Medical  Legal determination
determination  Based on:
 Evidence and
 Simple description Opinion!!!!
of cause 1. Natural
 Could include 2. Accidental
underlying causes 3. Suicidal
4. Homicide
5. Undetermined

17. Stages of an Investigation:
 Collection of verbal evidence
 Collection of physical evidence
 Analysis of evidence
 In the US Anthropologists are typically
confined to the last two.
 In some other countries they may engage in all
aspects of the investigation.

18. Ethical issues in Forensic
Anthropology
Your Promise to me!

19. Questions?
Next Week:
Osteiology and Intro to Forensics
Chapters 2 in Burns