Fordisc 3

Abstract

Forensic anthropologists are often consulted to estimate aspects of the biological profile, such as age, ancestry, sex and stature from unidentified skeletal remains. Estimating ancestry is especially challenging in developed countries that have large numbers of immigrants from underdeveloped countries. Many developed countries have also experienced secular changes in the well-established populations, most notably an increase in stature over the last 150 years, which often brings changes in cranial morphology. In order to keep forensic anthropological standards up to date with population changes in the United States, the Forensic Data Bank (FDB) of demographic and skeletal information was established. Fordisc 3 is the latest generation of statistical software to aid in constructing a biological profile using FDB data and multivariate statistical methods. Fordisc 3 is used by forensic anthropologists around the world and is regularly being improved and expanded.