Fundamentals of forensic anthropology

Abstract

PHOTO CREDITS. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. SERIES INTRODUCTION. PART I BACKGROUND SETTING FOR FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY. 1 Introduction. Overview of the Field. Education and Training. Overview of the Book. 2 The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Historical Context. The Somewhat Difficult Birth of a Specialty. The Middle Years. Approaching Senescence? PART II TOWARDS PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION. 3 Initial Assessments of Skeletal Remains. Human or Not? Number of Individuals Represented. 4 Assignment of Sex. Criteria for Sex Attribution in the Adult Skeleton. Pelvic Traits. The Skull. Visual Assessment. Discriminant Function Analysis. The Appendicular Bones. Femur. Humerus. Other Appendicular Elements. Miscellaneous Axial Bones. Attribution of Sex from the Skeletons of Children. Figuring the Error Rate. 5 Age Estimation. The Early Years. Dental Age. Bone Age. Long Bone Length. Union of Primary Ossification Centers. Epiphyseal Fusion. The Adult Years. Macroscopic Methods. Face of the Pubic Symphysis. Sternal Extremity of the Rib. The Auricular Surface. Cranial Suture Closure. Dental Methods. Microscopic Methods. Other Age Indicators. Concluding Remarks on Adult Age Estimation. 6 Deciphering Ancestral Background. The Biological and the Cultural. The Biological Context. The Cultural Component. Skeletal Indicators. The Skull. The Postcranium. 7 Stature Estimation. How Tall Are You, Really? Estimation of Living Stature from Skeletal Remains. The Fully Method. Stature Estimation From Long Bone Length. Comparison of Methods. Reporting Stature Estimates. Correcting Stature Estimates for Older Adults. Secular Trend. Stature Estimates from Fragmentary Long Bones. Stature Estimation from Short Bone Length. Footwear and Foot Length. 8 Skeletal Markers of Activity and Life History. Childbirth Indicators. Handedness. Other Activity Markers. Partial Medical History. Medical Radiology. PART III PRINCIPAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL ROLES IN MEDICAL-LEGAL INVESTIGATION. 9 Trauma. Blunt Force Trauma. Cranial Fracture. Hyoid Fracture. Postcranial Fracture. Child Abuse. Penetrating and Perforating Trauma. Gunshot Wounds. Sharp Injuries. 10 The Postmortem Period. Estimation of the Postmortem Interval. Postmortem Events. Carnivore Scavenging. Cremation. Has the Body Been Burned? Fracturing. Bone Shrinkage. Dismemberment. Ritual Use of Skeletal Material. 11 Professionalism, Ethics, and the Expert Witness. The Expert Witness. Standards and Credentials for Expert Testimony. Some Practical Issues. Ethics. Science in the Courtroom: Two Unfortunate Examples. When Good Science is not Presented. When Good Science is Ignored. 12 Genetics and DNA. Serology and Mendelian Genetics. Forensic DNA Analysis. Legal Considerations. References. Index.