Physical Anthropology in Forensic Medicine

Abstract

Dr Lundy is a physical anthropologist at the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii, and faculty affiliate at the department of anatomy and reproductive biology, University of Hawaii. When skeletal remains are discovered, immediate questions arise. Are they human? If so, how many persons are represented? Was the person male or female? To what ethnic group did he or she belong? How old was the person at the time of death? How tall was the person in life? What is the period of time since death, and what, if any, is the osteological evidence for the cause of death? Forensic pathologists, coroners and police officers are usually not properly trained to perform such examinations. The forensic physical anthropologist is the individual best trained to answer the above questions and in turn, provide investigators with a physical description of the person which can then be compared with missing person reports. A tentative match can then be pursued with detailed dental and medical records in hopes of establishing positive identity. In addition to training in physical anthropology and anatomy, the forensic physical anthropologist must be skilled in the interpretation of the morphology and variation of the human skeleton. Such skills are usually gained by studying large skeletal collections where one gets the 'feel' for the often subtle skeletal variations based upon sex, ethnic group and age. Most forensic anthropologists in the United States are employed in universities and museums and do their forensic work on a consulting basis. A few are employed full-time in government positions. The specialty is small with fewer than 80 members in the Physical Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and less than 40 have undergone voluntary certification in forensic anthropology by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. What follows is a brief discussion of how the forensic anthropologist attempts to answer the questions posed by the discovery of skeletal remains.