The use of machine learning (ML) models in forensic anthropology (FA) has increased in the last half decade; however, there is a lack of a standardized protocol on how to curate, use, and assess ML models. We introduce PUMAA (A Protocol for Utilizing Machine Learning in Forensic Anthropological Analyses), which includes a flowchart and a checklist that forensic practitioners can follow when creating, using, or assessing ML models for forensic research. The five factors that must be assessed in determining an ML model's true performance are explored. The most common types of supervised ML models are also explained in lay terms and accompanied by visuals to increase accessibility of these complex concepts. Although not exhaustive, examples of information that should be reported have been discussed for seven types of ML models. In addition, their various strengths and limitations are evaluated in order to equip researchers with the necessary tools to make decisions regarding when and how to use ML models. This protocol provides an initial standard for the use of ML in FA.

Statistical support for identification using epigenetic traits of the human skeleton.

ABSTRACT The application of forensic anthropological methodology in interventions aimed at the exhumation of victims of Francoism is of paramount importance. This is not only for the identification of the remains, but also to fulfill a social task of reconciliation, clarification of the truth, justice and dignification of the victims and their families, in accordance with the provisions of international law and Spanish and regional legislation. This paper underscores the pivotal role of forensic anthropology, with a particular emphasis on Andalusia, a region disproportionately impacted by Franco's repression. It delineates the methodologies and protocols employed in the interventions undertaken, encompassing preliminary investigations and comprehensive analyses of the remains. Moreover, the case of the Pico Reja grave, situated in the San Fernando Cemetery in Seville, is presented as a practical exemplar to elucidate these procedures. This article is categorized under: Forensic Anthropology > Anthropology in Mass Disaster & War Crime Contexts Forensic Anthropology > Forensic Archaeology

Case-specific accuracy in sex estimation from long bones in forensic anthropology: An "accuracy x-factors" approach.

A novel landmark-based morphometric approach for sequencing typical thoracic vertebrae.

Sex estimation from human calvarial bone photographs with deep learning approach.

Traditionally, forensic anthropologists worked on secured scenes or in academic labs. Today, practitioners are more involved in casework, working alongside forensic pathologists during autopsies, mass disasters, and interviewing relatives. This expanded role brings practitioners into closer and repeated contact with the emotional aspects of death and associated vicarious trauma (VT). While many forensic disciplines address the impact of VT, the effects on forensic anthropologists remain underexplored. The authors surveyed practitioners (N = 114) who worked with human remains in a medicolegal context part-time, full-time, or as a part of coursework. Questions focused on how practitioners acknowledge or support their mental health and which aspects of casework they find triggering or stressful. Respondents had the option to provide open text testimonials. Participants were triggered most by children/child abuse cases and testifying at trial. Stress was highest surrounding personal finances, work/life balance, engagement with supervisors, and speaking with decedents' family/friends. While many felt supported by coworkers and supervisors, approximately half felt comfortable directly discussing their concerns. The majority noted availability to wellness programs and over half have sought professional support. Participants highlighted compartmentalization, peer/coworker support, and exercise/sports to cope with work-related stress. These results underscore challenges and resilience in forensic anthropology. Despite gaps in support, communication, and normalization of mental health discussions, practitioners demonstrated a commitment to their profession, supported by coping strategies and institutional resources. Continued efforts to address vicarious trauma in forensic anthropology practice are essential to fostering and normalizing a healthier, sustainable workforce.

Machine Learning in Forensic Anthropology: Sex Classification of Fingerprints

Determination of sex from the skull and skeletal remains plays an important role for archaeologists, physical anthropologists, and forensic anthropologists. This is achieved by applying knowledge of human osteology. Due to its anatomical position at the basolateral region of the skull, the mastoid process is one of the most sexually dimorphic parts and is less likely to be damaged. The parameters of the mastoid process are generally larger in males than in females. In the present study, an attempt was made to determine sex in unidentified skulls by evaluating mastoid process measurements and to test the accuracy of sex determination using discriminant function analysis.

The 1992 cold case homicide of “Ina Jane Doe” illustrates how an interdisciplinary team worked to identify the decedent using a combined approach of skeletal re-analysis, updated forensic art informed by anthropologists’ input, archival research, and forensic investigative genetic genealogy. The original forensic art for “Ina Jane Doe” showed an over-pathologization of skeletal features and an inaccurate hairstyle; however, the case gained notoriety on internet true crime forums leading to speculation about the decedent’s intellectual capacity and physical appearance. The “Ina Jane Doe” case demonstrates the importance of advocating for skeletal re-analysis as more robust methods and technologies emerge in forensic science, as well as the impact of sustained public interest in cold cases. In this case, continuous public interest and online speculation led to anthropologists constructing a team of experts to correct and revise narratives about the decedent. Forensic anthropologists’ role in cold cases may include offering skeletal re-analysis, recognizing and correcting errors in the original estimations of the biological profile, searching for missing person matches, and/or working collaboratively with subject matter experts in forensic art, odontology and forensic investigative genetic genealogy.

Introduction: Sex estimation is one of the first and basic aims of forensic anthropology. The femur has been described as the most dimorphic long bone commonly used for sex identification with application of multiple femoral morphometries known to produce more efficient outcomes. The aim of this study is to determine sex of individuals using proximal femoral morphometry in a Nigerian population. Methods: A total number of 150 dry femur bones (comprising 75 right and 75 left femur) of males and females were used for this study. Measurements which include femoral neck length (anterior and posterior diameter), femoral head diameter (vertical and transverse), proximal breadth and femoral neck thickness were taken using a vernier calliper and values recorded. Results were statistically analysed. Results: The total mean value for anterior neck length for males was 26.47mm while for females it was 29.88mm, the vertical head diameter for males was 45.63mm while for females it is 47.75mm and the femoral neck thickness for males was 31.78mm and for females was 27.75mm. All the measured parameters except proximal breadth showed significant difference (P<0.05) between the male and female. It was also observed that the value of canonical correlation is 0.498 and 0.390 suggesting a moderate correlation between the set of predictors and the discriminant functions. This resulted in the predictive power for each of the measured parameter to be 49.8% and 39% respectively. Conclusion: The parameters used in this study showed that there was variation in the mean values of the measured parameters in comparison to other population.

Background Stature add value in establishing identity of an individual. Mathematical equations are often used for deriving stature wherever identification is not feasible using anatomical methods. This study aimed at developing a regression equation to predict stature from percutaneous length of tibia. Methods In this cross-sectional study 167 undergraduate medical students of Devdaha Medical College and Research Institute were included among which 80 were males and 87 were females. Study was conducted from 15th May 2024 to 24th August 2024 after ethical approval was obtained. Stature was measured using stadiometer and percutaneous length of right tibia was measured from superior most end of the medial condyle to inferior most margin of the medial malleolus. Results The participant in this study falls under the age groups ranging from 18 to 26 years with a mean age of 20.68(±1.53) years. The mean length of the tibia was 39.11(±3.95) cm and mean height of the participants was 159.8(±7.6) cm. Regression analysis of this study demonstrated that tibia length is a significant predictor of stature in both males and females and, the predictive model was more precise in males. In combined equation where sexes were combined the model fit improved greatly with variance 65.2% confirming that predictive accuracy increases when the combined regression formula is applied. Conclusion Forensic anthropologist can use regression equation of various body parts for prediction of stature among which predictability from lower limb tends to be more accurate.

Stature estimation is an essential component of forensic anthropology, aiding in personal identification from skeletal remains. While appendicular skeleton measurements are commonly used, in cases of mutilation or trauma, alternative reliable indicators such as the foramen magnum (FM) become crucial. To determine the correlation between stature and the dimensions of the FM and to derive regression equations for stature estimation in the Western Indian population. This prospective observational study was conducted on 106 medicolegal autopsies (76 males and 30 females) in a tertiary care center in Mumbai. Cadaveric stature was measured in the supine position. Anteroposterior (AP) and transverse diameters of the FM were measured post-brain removal using vernier calipers. Data were analyzed using SPSS v17.0 to derive regression equations. Strong positive correlations were observed between FM dimensions and stature in both sexes. In males, AP and transverse lengths showed very strong correlations ( R = 0.89 and R = 0.91, respectively), while in females, correlations were slightly lower ( R = 0.84 and R = 0.75). Regression equations were derived for each sex. The FM offers a valuable parameter for stature estimation, especially in cases involving fragmented or mutilated remains. This study provides population-specific regression equations useful for forensic investigations in the Western Indian population.

Funerary practices and burial sites offer valuable insights into how societies conceptualize death and an enhanced perspective on communities' social, economic, and cultural contexts. The integration of archaeological data, historical records, iconographic and documentary sources, and socio-cultural anthropology strengthens the understanding of death-related discourses, symbolic representations, and changing attitudes over time. Key funerary indicators, such as graves and spatial distribution in the necropolis, inhumation type, body positioning and orientation, and grave goods, reveal the deceased's integration in their communities and socioeconomic status. This paper explores these indicators to promote a broader understanding of communities' cultural, social, and economic contexts, focusing on the Portuguese Post-Medieval period (1450–1835) while summarizing key concepts. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for a comprehensive interpretation of funerary practices. A detailed contextual analysis of skeletal remains, burial features, and associated material culture is essential to ensure reliable interpretations of funerary practices and social dynamics. Nevertheless, this approach requires the expertise of professionals with extensive fieldwork experience and specialized knowledge in archaeology, biological and forensic anthropology, and bioarchaeology.

ABSTRACT In northern Uganda, the living and the dead remain bound together through land, spirits, and the slow labor of repair. Yet forensic science, when deployed in postconflict settings, often treats bodies as evidence and landscapes as backdrops, severing these ties in the name of science or justice. This article applies a socioecological lens to an “integrated approach” to forensic intervention that begins instead with Acholi understandings of personhood and place, in which spirits, animals, and soil are participants in social life. Based on years of collaborative ethnographic fieldwork—including interviews, community dialogues, and mapping of sites of hauntings and burials—the study shows how Acholi cosmologies unsettle the epistemic foundations of forensic practice. When the dead disturb the living, the problem is not only spiritual but ecological, demanding rebalancing among humans, nonhumans, and the land itself. We argue that forensic anthropology can become an act of listening rather than extraction—one that attends to the agencies of sites, spirits, and survivors alike. Reframing the work in this way reveals both the limits and the possibilities of forensic intervention, offering a vision of justice rooted not in recovery alone but in renewed relations among the living and the dead.

Poland's recent history has been profoundly marked by multiple traumatic events, including the First and Second World Wars, the atrocities of Nazi concentration camps, and the massacres at Katyń, Wołyń, and Jedwabne. These events, along with the tortures and executions under the Communist regime, represent some of the most widely recognized yet not exhaustive examples of severe human rights violations that occurred on Polish soil. Forensic archaeology and anthropology have emerged as crucial tools in understanding such events, uncovering the identities of victims, and ultimately promoting historical justice. Forensic anthropology, through the analysis of human remains, enables the identification of victims and the reconstruction of events leading to their deaths. By doing so, it helps to uncover the truth about historical atrocities and provides a sense of closure to the families of victims. This article provides a comprehensive overview of selected events and explores the application of forensic anthropology in investigating Poland's traumatic past. Moreover, we critically examine the applicability of forensic anthropology in a historical context and its social and political challenges. The field faces several challenges, including the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical considerations, and the potential for political and social resistance to the findings. Despite these challenges, forensic anthropology remains a vital discipline in the quest for historical justice and the acknowledgment of past atrocities.

Sex estimation from skeletal remains is an important component of personal identification in forensic anthropology. The different rates of skeletal growth and development pertaining to age, ethnicity and sex form the basis of such identification. The present study has been conducted on the contemporary North Indian Haryanvi population to ascertain the cephalometric measurements and the best machine learning algorithm to study sexual dimorphism. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 individuals (M: 100: F:100) aged between 18 and 40 years and 12 cephalometric measurements were obtained using spreading and sliding callipers. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21.00. All 12 variables showed sexual dimorphism and the sexing accuracy ranged between 62% and 93.5% in univariate analysis. Bizygomatic breadth and bi-gonial width (BiGoW) showed an accuracy of 99% in multivariate analysis. The receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis also depicted BiGoW to have the highest area under the curve (AUC) (1.00) and sexing accuracy of 95.5%. Principal component analysis (PCA) also revealed a similar result with BiGoW, nasal height (NH) and ZyBr having the highest communalities. However, it was concluded that discriminant function analysis (DFA) and ROC analysis showed more promising results in studying sexing accuracy as compared to PCA.

Taphonomic processes pose significant challenges to forensic anthropology while also playing a key role in reconstructing post-mortem contexts and identifying biological and cultural modifications. This study assesses skeletal preservation in 100 individuals (50 males and 50 females), aged between 28 and 101 years at the time of death, from the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection (CEI/XXI), one of the most recent osteological collections assembled in Portugal and curated by the University of Coimbra. An adapted version of Garcia's method (2005/2006) was used to calculate the Anatomical Preservation Index (API). In addition to quantitative data, qualitative taphonomic alterations - such as erosion, flaking, fissures, and colour changes - were recorded. The mean API score was 82.10%, indicating a preservation state between "Very good" and "Excellent". No significant differences in preservation were found between sexes or age groups. All individuals exhibited at least one type of taphonomic alteration. Erosion and colour changes were the most frequent, with patterns varying according to sex and age. These findings contribute to the development of forensic taphonomy by reinforcing the value of integrated analysis and supporting curatorial and analytical practices in contemporary osteological collections.

Background/Objectives: The cranial base, especially the posterior cranial fossa, has openings with population-specific morphometry. This study aimed to assess the morphometric characteristics of the major posterior cranial fossa openings (foramen magnum, jugular foramen, internal acoustic opening) in the Turkish population and evaluate their utility for sex estimation. It also aimed to provide population-specific reference values for forensic anthropology and cranial base surgery. Methods: This prospective study included 304 adult skulls (151 female, 153 male) obtained from forensic autopsy cases, all of which had preserved anatomical integrity. Structures in the posterior cranial fossa were exposed following a standardized dissection protocol. A total of 18 morphometric parameters were measured using a digital caliper. Inter-sex comparisons were performed, and the diagnostic performance of the parameters for sex differentiation was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: All morphometric parameters and inter-foraminal distances were significantly larger in male individuals compared to females (p < 0.001). Similarly, ellipticity indices were higher in males than in females (all p < 0.001). ROC analysis revealed that right internal acoustic opening transverse diameter (RIAO-T), left and right jugular foramen transverse diameters (RJF-T and LJF-T) parameters possess exceptionally high discriminatory power, yielding accuracies greater than 99%. Conclusions: Components of the posterior cranial fossa exhibit marked sexual dimorphism in the Turkish population. These morphometric data provide valuable anatomical references for forensic identification, aid in preserving neurovascular structures, and support safe surgical planning in cranial base procedures.

Distinguishing peri-mortem trauma from heat-induced trauma is often a challenging aspect of forensic anthropology casework where fire has been used as a means of concealing evidence. This paper aims to explore the extent to which peri-mortem ballistic trauma characteristics are still present after burning and whether they can be distinguished from heat-induced fractures. This research used Sus domesticus femora and ribs that had been manually defleshed and shot with 7.92 × 57 mm Mauser ammunition at a shooting distance of 3 m, 10 m and 20 m. This type of firearm and ammunition were commonly used in a number of conflicts, such as the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). The fracture patterns as a result of the ballistic trauma were analysed prior to placing the samples in an electric furnace, where they were heated at a peak temperature of 850 °C for 30 min. Post-burning, each fragment was analysed for ballistic and heat-induced trauma. Following reconstruction, entry and exit wound morphology and radiating fractures remained, with entry wounds being more clearly defined than exit wounds. Ballistic trauma characteristics such as bevelling were still apparent after burning. The results of this study reveal that pre-existing ballistic trauma is still identifiable after bones have been exposed to heat and it is possible to reconstruct the bones to gain a better interpretation.