Fragmentary Skeletal Remains Research Articles

Using Multivariate Analysis within the Vertebral Column to Identify Individual Vertebrae

This article demonstrates the utility of a multivariate analysis of vertebrae in an applied context. The human vertebral column is a morphologically complex group of elements. Current methods rely on morphological characteristics to classify isolated vertebrae qualitatively. This research provides a bridge between morphological assumptions for vertebral designations and quantitative classification. These osteometric methods and statistical analyses provide quantifiable information relating to the accuracy of vertebrae classification. The sample used for this analysis consists of osteometric vertebral measurements from intact vertebral columns from 59 individuals. In order to assess the potential for these vertebral measurements to classify vertebrae, regional grouping models based on vertebral column segments were developed and analyzed. The data were tested for multivariate normality and homogeneity of variance–covariance matrices in order to comply with the assumptions required by the statistical analyses used for classification. Linear discriminant function analysis was used for classification. The sensitivity and specificity of each vertebral group prediction were used for evaluation. This research demonstrates that by using osteometric methods and statistical analyses, the accuracy of vertebrae classification is quantifiable. This method has been developed to assist with the sorting and analysis of commingled and fragmentary skeletal remains.

Determination of Sexual Dimorphism from Foramen Magnum in an Eastern Indian Population

Human identification is an important arena of forensic investigation, it includes sex determination which becomes extremely difficult in fragmented skeletal remains. Skull dimensions are measured for the purpose of sexual dimorphism which vary in different populations. In this study, we attempted to analyse the measurements from adult human skulls and employ discriminant function to predict sex accurately. A manual vernier calliper was used to measure the antero-posterior (AP) diameter and transverse diameter of foramen magnum of 88 skulls (49 males, 39 females) from the collection housed at the department of Anatomy, RG KAR medical college and Calcutta medical college. The Wilk's lambda for the model is 0.795. The discriminant function equation is, Df= 3.342× (APdiameter of foramen magnum) +0.725× (Transverse diameter of foramen magnum) -13.641(constant). The cut-off point is 0.505. So above this value 0.505, the cases are male and below it, the cases are female. On comparing the measurements, we found that antero-posterior dimensions and transverse dimensions of foramen magnum were greater in males than females. Collectively, all the results indicate that dimensions of foramen magnum can be used as a moderate indicator for sex determination in regional populations.

A web application for sex and stature estimation from radiographic proximal femur for a Thai population

In both forensic and archaeological domains, the discovery of incomplete human remains is a frequent occurrence. Nevertheless, the estimation of biological profiles from such remains presents a challenge due to the absence of crucial skeletal elements, such as the skull and pelvis. This study aimed to assess the utility of the proximal femur in the forensic identification process by creating a web application for osteometric analysis of the proximal femur. The aim was to determine the sex and stature of an individual from radiographs of the left anteroposterior femur. To accomplish this, an automated method was developed for acquiring linear measurements from radiographic images of the proximal femur using Python tools. The application of Hough techniques and Canny edge detection was utilized to generate linear femoral dimensions from radiographs. A total of 354 left femora were radiographed and measured by the algorithm. The sex classification model employed in this study was the Naïve Bayes algorithm (accuracy = 91.2 %). Results indicated that Gaussian process regression (GPR) was the most effective method for estimating stature (mean error = 4.68 cm, SD = 3.93 cm). The proposed web application holds the potential to serve as a valuable asset in the realm of forensic investigations in Thailand, particularly in the estimation of biological profiles from fragmentary skeletal remains.

Bioarchaeological investigations of the princely grave at Helmsdorf attesting to the violent death of an Early Bronze Age leader

The Helmsdorf “princely” tomb, excavated at the beginning of the twentieth century, is one of the most important archaeological discoveries dating from the Early Bronze Age in central Germany. In addition to the burial inventory, which points to an elevated social position of the deceased, a number of highly fragmented skeletal remains were preserved. Forensic anthropological investigation identified three distinctive bone defects, the surfaces of which were macromorphologically and microscopically examined in greater detail. Micro-CT analyses were also carried out. The results of all examinations suggested that the defects represented three perimortem injuries. The wound morphology was indicative of the use of a bladed weapon. The combination of injuries and their locations supported the assumption of a targeted use of force to kill. A comparison of Early Bronze Age weapons and tools with the bone lesions led to the identification of a type of weapon possibly used in the attack.

DXAGE 2.0 - adult age at death estimation using bone loss in the proximal femur and the second metacarpal.

The accurate age at death assessment of unidentified adult skeletal individuals is a critical research task in forensic anthropology, being a key feature for the determination of biological profiles of individual skeletal remains. We have previously shown that the age-related decrease of bone mineral density (BMD) in the proximal femur could be used to assess age at death in women (Navega et al., J Forensic Sci 63:497-503, 2018). The present study aims to generate models for age estimation in both sexes through bone densitometry of the femur and radiogrammetry of the second metacarpal. The training sample comprised 224 adults (120 females, 104 males) from the "Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection," and different models were generated through least squares regression and general regression neural networks (GRNN). The models were operationalized in a user-friendly online interface at https://osteomics.com/DXAGE2/ . The mean absolute difference between the known and estimated age at death ranges from 9.39 to 13.18years among women and from 10.33 to 15.76 among men with the least squares regression models. For the GRNN models, the mean absolute difference between documented and projected age ranges from 8.44 to 12.58years in women and from 10.56 to 16.18years in men. DXAGE 2.0 enables age estimation in incomplete and/or fragmentary skeletal remains, using alternative skeletal regions, with reliable results.

Under the Skin: Norwegian Bog Skeletons and Perceptions of Personhood, Value, and Sacrifice

The authors set a relatively small and little-known corpus of human remains recovered from Iron Age wetland contexts in Norway in a wider theoretical framework of sacrifice and personhood. The material studied, fragmentary skeletal remains in wetland contexts, juxtaposed with the better-known bog body tradition of northern Europe, offers a base from which to query constructions and perceptions of personhood. Situating the discussion in a contextual framework and relational underpinnings of ways of being, the authors examine whether or not the assumption that personhood rests in a human body can be implicitly inferred when confronted with ancient human remains, and what this may imply for interpretations of human bodies in votive settings.

Cephalometric Analysis for Gender Determination Using Maxillary Sinus Index in Population of Gujrat, India

Introduction: Humans are sexually dimorphic. Identification of remnants of skeletal and decomposing parts of humans is one of the most difficult skills in forensic medicine. Forensic anthropologists can receive whole or fragmented skeletal remains. But the unique thing is that the maxillary sinus is intact within the skull, so maxillary sinus radiography is being used to identify remains and determine gender. Materials and Method: A total of 51 adult digital lateral cephalometric radiographs (20 males and 31 females) were included in the study. The maxillary sinus analysis was performed by measuring the height and width of these digital lateral cephalometric radiographs using measurement tools of Sidexis4 software. Maxillary sinus index was calculated, discriminant function analysis performed, and discriminant equation derived for determination of gender. Results: Comparison of maxillary sinus parameters (height and width) between male and female groups showed statistically insignificant differences in this study. Regression analysis is done and an equation is derived, which will aid in the prediction of gender by substituting the values of specific measurements in the equation.

Comment to “A.J. Collings, K. Brown, Reconstruction and physical fit analysis of fragmented skeletal remains using 3D imaging and printing” [Forensic Sci. Int.: Rep. 2 (2020) 100114

The creation of virtual 3D-models of objects of forensic interest and the use of 3D printing gained more and more importance in the forensic field during the last years. Comparing radiological imaging techniques, such as CT technology, with surface scan technology for anthropological studies is a field of research in which we are also actively working. This is the reason why we were particularly interested in this paper. As researchers working in a center in which the application of 3D technology including Computed Tomography (CT), 3D Surface-Scanning (3DSS) and 3D printing is integrated in daily casework, we feel committed to answer to this study, because we are surprised by the chosen study design and we cannot agree with the obtained conclusion.

Sexual dimorphism from third cervical vertebra (C3) on lateral cervical radiograph: A 2-dimensional geometric morphometric approach

Abstract Sex identification is essential for the establishment of an accurate biological profile from skeletal remains in forensic anthropology. Conventional method using calipers is time-consuming and associated with a high margin of error especially in the case of highly fragmented skeletal remains. Geometric morphometric method is an approach which utilizes qualitative and quantitative description of biological forms according to geometric definitions of their shape. This study aimed to determine sexual dimorphism of third cervical (C3) vertebra on the lateral cervical radiograph by geometric morphometric method. Lateral cervical radiographs of 432 samples comprising of 262 males and 170 females of known individuals were retrieved retrospectively. The samples were adult Malaysian population aged from 20 to 60 years old. Eleven 2-dimensional (2D) landmarks were applied on the digitalized radiographs by TPSDig2 (Version 2.31) software. Geometric morphometric analysis was performed by MorphoJ software. Procrustes ANOVA showed that centroid size and shape are significantly different with p

Prospects of research on cremated human remains: correlation of metal traces on cremations with funeral rituals and burial customs.

Grave goods are one of the most important parts of the funeral setting. The set of grave goods, their typology, the features of making and location in the tomb are dictated by the number of common funerary rituals and customs, and, for example, give information about the ethnic and cultural traditions of the population, the social status of the deceased, or economic contacts. They include pottery, jewelry, costume elements, weapons and other objects. On the funeral pyre, grave goods could be placed directly on top of the body, near it (in the contact zone of the body) or be burned separately. For example, the remains of burned metal and glass objects such as costume details (fibulae, buckles and other metal parts of belts), weapons (placed beside the body or at the feet of the deceased), jewelry (earrings, bracelets) are often observed on the fragmented cremated skeletal remains. An anatomical observation of the bones which show such traces of burned metal sometimes allows determination of their origin (in some cases the type of item which left it), to obtain information about the location of the grave goods during cremation and some additional details of the funeral rites, as well as the tradition of fashion or weapons. Traces of burned metal or glass items often occur on the fragmented skeletal remains of cremated individuals. Unfortunately, this information is often not recorded in the framework of bioarchaeological research and has only a sketchy character. Most burials from the La Tène and the Roman Imperial periods contain cremations. However, it is difficult to answer the question of the role of grave goods in funeral rites and to reveal the traditions behind the wearing of the clothes, jewelry and weapons. In such cases the cremations are the only source available for the study. Against the background of the investigated late La Tène and early Roman Imperial warrior cremation burial ground of Mutin (Ukraine), a correlation analysis was performed, demonstrating the main possibilities to be followed.

Reconstruction and physical fit analysis of fragmented skeletal remains using 3D imaging and printing

Physical fit analysis (PFA) entails physically fitting fragmented evidence together to determine shared origin. PFA can be challenging to conduct with bone fragments particularly when fragile, sharp, or embedded in other materials. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging and printing techniques can circumvent these challenges. We compare two different 3D imaging techniques, micro computed tomography (μCT) and structured light scanning (SLS). By generating virtual 3D models and prints of burned human bone fragments, we test the suitability of these imaging techniques and subsequent 3D printing for PFA. We found 3D imaging and printing allowed for effective PFA without excessively handling the original fragments.

Morphology and osteohistology of a large‐bodied caenagnathid (Theropoda, Oviraptorosauria) from the Hell Creek Formation (Montana): implications for size‐based classifications and growth reconstruction in theropods

AbstractOviraptorosaurs, like many coelurosaurians, are frequently diagnosed using incomplete or fragmentary skeletal remains, with factors such as body size often used to assign material to a particular taxon or as a basis for describing new species. Here we describe a partial skeleton,ROM VP65884, from the Hell Creek Formation (Montana,USA), and through morphological and phylogenetic comparisons identify it as belonging to Caenagnathidae, and probably referable toAnzu wyliei. We perform multi‐element osteohistological sampling of the tibia, fibula, manual phalanx, rib and gastralium ofROM VP65884 to determine the ontogenetic status of the individual, and to perform a detailed assessment of the intra‐skeletal variation present in a series of histological proxies for growth and development. Skeletochronological analysis suggestsROM VP65884 was still actively growing at time of death. Lacunar area was variable, but consistent with values reported for other dinosaurs and vertebrates. Osteocyte lacunar density was found to be relatively similar to the few previous measurements known from coelurosaurian dinosaurs, and preserved no ontogenetic pattern. Osteocyte lacunar density (OLD) was much higher in sampled rib and gastralia elements when compared to limbs, and the high variability inOLDoverall lends further support against the hypothesis of this feature acting as a proxy for mass‐specific growth rate. Our results stress the importance of using osteohistological analyses to constrain variation and permit ontogenetic assessment, and suggest caution be taken when using size as a determinant for referral of disassociated elements to specific or new coelurosaur taxa.

Digital restoration of fragmentary human skeletal remains: Testing the feasibility of virtual reality

Experts in forensic anthropology and medicine have become gradually accustomed to examining components of the human body in the virtual workspace. While the computer-assisted approach offers numerous benefits, the interactions with digital three-dimensional biological objects are often problematic, particularly if conducted with mouse, keyboard and flat-panel screen. The study focusses on feasibility of a virtual reality (VR) system for virtual restoration of fragmentary skeletal remains.The VR system was confronted with three cases of fragmentary remains. The cases were reassembled manually by twenty participants using a HTC Vive headset combined with an in-house application A.R.T. The same task was performed using a CloudCompare software in conjunction with a desktop peripheral. The two systems were compared in terms of time efficiency, the geometric properties of the resulting restorations, and convenience of use.Restoration using the VR system took approximately half the time the desktop set-up did. The VR system also yielded a lower error rate when a severely fragmented skull was reassembled. Ultimately, although the efficiency of the reassembling was shown to be strongly dependent on the operator's experience, the use of the VR system balanced out the uneven levels of proficiency in computer graphics.The current generation of virtual reality headsets has a strong potential to facilitate and improve tasks relating to the virtual restoration of fragmented skeletal remains. A VR system offers an intuitive digital working environment which is less affected by an operator's computer skills and practical understanding of the technology than the desktop systems are.

Applicability and reliability of foramen magnum for sex determination in contemporary Western Indian population: A computed tomographic study

Abstract Establishing sex of fragmentary skeletal remains is a critical issue in forensic anthropology and is of prime importance, since it helps to significantly narrow down the number of potential victims. Forensic anthropologists have always advocated for population specific sex discriminant formula for each population using different skeletal parts. Till date Gujarati population of India has not have any discriminant formulae for sex determination from fragmentary crania. So, the current research aims to examine the usefulness of foramen magnum variables in sex estimation of Western Indian (Gujarati) population and to provide population data which can be used as reference in cases of establishing identity in unknown fragmentary skulls. A total of 553 adult individuals [♂ = 291, ♀ = 262] of Gujarati origin with age range 18–60 years were subjected to Computed Tomography (CT) scan of skull. Length and width of foramen magnum were measured and based on these, three other variables (areas by Radinsky and Teixeria formulae and foramen magnum index) were calculated. Descriptive and discriminant function analysis was performed using SPSS 20.00. Significant difference was observed in all variables except foramen magnum index, but sexing accuracy didn't exceed 69.1%, even after using multivariate discriminant analysis. It is concluded that the foramen magnum region is not suitable for sexing Gujarati population in forensic context.

Determination of Sex from Mastoid Dimensions among North Indians

Introduction: Sex determination is the keystone of a biological profile and skulls of unknown provenance are best tested for race and sex using different variables. Determination of sex from the skeleton is vital to medico legalinvestigations. The mastoid region is analysed for determination of sex from fragmentary crania in Forensic Anthropology as it is one of the most protected region and resistant to damage due to its anatomical position at the base of the brain.Objective: The purposeof this study was to determine the existence of sexual dimorphism in the dimensions of mastoid process among North Indians.Material and Method: Material for the study consisted of 70 adult (above 18 years) human skulls (35 of either sex) of North Indians obtained from Anatomy and Forensic department of SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar. Mastoid measurements (Length, Breadth and A-P diameter) of both the sides were taken in millimeters with the help of sliding Vernier Caliper and size of mastoid process was calculated.Results: All four mastoidvariables showed significant sexual dimorphismp<0.001. Canonical discriminant function Coefficient using stepwise analysis was -3.142 in females and 3.142 in males.In statistical analysis using Canonical Discriminant Functions, Eigen value was 10.015 and Wilks’ Lambda was 0.091.Conclusion: Accuracy of determination of gender using all four variables was 97.1% original and 96.4% cross- validated. Therefore, mastoid process can be used as a tool fordetermination of sex in fragmentary skeletal remains.

Comparative Study for Estimation of Stature from Tibial Length in Egyptian and Bengali Adult Population

Forensic anthropologists employ in estimating stature from fragmented body parts or human skeletal remains. This study aimed at investigating the inter-racial difference between adult Egyptian and Bengali populations regarding the body stature and tibial length, developing regression equation formulae using the percutaneous length of tibia (PCTL) to estimate stature. Four groups of adult male and female Egyptian and Bengali subjects aged ˃21 were recruited randomly. Body height and PCTL were measured using the standard anthropometric technique. The means of the stature of the studied groups exhibited significant differences between all groups (p<0.001) except in Egyptian females versus Bengali male (p=0.067). There was no significant difference within the same sex of both ethnic groups regarding the tibial length (Females p=0 .490) and (Males p=0.905).The measured parameters of males were significantly higher than the corresponding female values. The linear regression equations derived for male and female Egyptian were 94.080+2.145 x T (± 3.57) and 76.617+2.375 x T (± 3.89), respectively. Those for male and female Bengali were 92.500+1.870 x T (± 2.93) and 105.563+1.473 x T (± 2.39), respectively. It was concluded that the derived equations are flexible and retain realistic standard errors that can be used for stature estimation using the length of an intact mutilated leg. These equation formulae are Sex and ethnic specific. Thus, they should be endorsed in anthropological studies for stature estimation among the ethnic groups under this study.

An Automated Two‐dimensional Pairwise form Registration Method for Pair‐matching of Fragmented Skeletal Remains

This study introduces an automated pairwise method for osteological pair-matching of fragmented skeletal remains using two-dimensional fragmented outlines extracted from photographs. The form data are used in pairwise iterative closest point registrations with rigid transformations. A modified version of the average Hausdorff distance is calculated to remove any coordinate correspondences with outline fracture margins, which allow the distance analysis of fragmented outlines. A dilation modification to the Hausdorff distance is proposed creating a greater separation between true- and false-pairs. The sample consists of 122 calcanei (61 pairs) from the UI-Stanford collection. Performance statistics are provided for simulated fragmented and complete assemblages. Results indicate up to 98% accuracy for fragmented and complete assemblages. The dilated Hausdorff distance performed similarly across assemblages, but showed a slight decrease in performance for the complete assemblage. This approach provides a useful short listing tool to reduce the number of visual comparisons required in large commingled assemblages.

Brief communication: A re-evaluation of the health index of southern Brazilian shellmound populations.

The southern Brazilian shellmounds provide archaeological evidence of prolonged human activity in the coast from approximately 6000 to 1000 BP. Shellmound building populations exploited the rich coastal estuarine zones, and the human remains recovered from them are important sources of information on health and overall lifestyle of these mid-Holocene groups. Therefore, they were included in the Western Hemisphere Global History of Health project. The shellmounds contribute the highest Health Index in the Western Hemisphere, but these conclusions are based on collections that exclude postcranial remains. Here, we reconstruct the Health Index for one specific shellmound using both cranial and postcranial remains to determine whether the initial studies might misrepresent the relative health of the Brazilian shellmound builders. The Health Index was calculated for a sample of 18 complete skeletons recovered from the shellmound Porto do Rio Vermelho 02 (Santa Catarina Island, Brazil). The Heath Index was calculated with and without postcranial markers and the results are compared with the Western Hemisphere Global History of Health data. The Health Index for Porto do Rio Vermelho 02 is lower than the reported average for American series in the Western Hemisphere Global History of Health Project and considerably lower than the original index reported for Brazilian shellmounds. This discrepancy is due to an increased prevalence of infectious disease and low stature. Although the Health Index remains a useful comparison statistic, re-evaluation of fragmentary skeletal remains demonstrates the need for caution when applying it to incomplete skeletal series.

The virtual approach to the assessment of skeletal injuries in human skeletal remains of forensic importance

While assessing skeletal injuries in human skeletal remains, forensic anthropologists are frequently presented with fractured, fragmented, or otherwise modified skeletal remains. The examination of evidence and the mechanisms of skeletal injuries often require that separate osseous elements be permanently or temporarily reassembled or reconstructed. If not dealt with properly, such reconstructions may impede accurate interpretation of the evidence.Nowadays, routine forensic examinations increasingly incorporate digital imaging technologies. As a result, a variety of PC-assisted imaging techniques, collectively referred to as the virtual approach, have been made available to treat fragmentary skeletal remains. The present study employs a 3D virtual approach to assess mechanisms of skeletal injuries, and provides an expert opinion of causative tools in three forensic cases involving human skeletal remains where integrity was compromised by multiple peri- or postmortem alterations resulting in fragmentation and/or incompleteness.Three fragmentary skulls and an incomplete set of foot bones with evidence of perimortem fractures (gunshot wounds) and sharp force trauma (saw marks) were digitized using a desktop laser scanner. The digitized skeletal elements were reassembled in the virtual workspace using functionalities incorporated in AMIRA® version 5.0 software, and simultaneously in real physical space by traditional reconstructive approaches. For this study, the original skeletal fragments were substituted by replicas built by 3D printing. Inter-method differences were quantified by mesh-based comparison after the physically reassembled elements had been re-digitized. Observed differences were further reinforced by visualizing local variations using colormaps and other advanced 3D visualization techniques. In addition, intra-operator and inter-operator error was computed.The results demonstrate that the importance of incorporating the virtual approach into the assessment of skeletal injuries increases with the complexity and state of preservation of a forensic case. While in relatively simple cases the virtual approach is a welcome extension to a traditional approach, which merely facilitates the analysis, in more complex and extensively fragmentary cases such as multiple gunshot wounds or dismemberment, the virtual approach can be a crucial step in applying the principles of gunshot wounds or sharp force traumatic mechanisms. The unrestricted manipulation with digital elements enabling limitless repairs and adjustments to a “best-case scenario” also produced smaller inter-operator variation in comparison to the traditional approach.

Computerized reconstruction of fragmentary skeletal remains

This research presents a new software, “Fragmento”, for accurate analyses of fragmentary human skeletal remains and facilitation of three-dimensional (3D) fragmentary matching and full bone reconstruction. The framework utilizes the power of statistical bone atlases to create 3D templates for bone matching and to interpolate missing anatomy for full bone reconstruction. Developed tool has enhanced features allowing the user to visualize, review and scale all scanned skeletal remains within a 3D statistical template, merging accepted registered elements to provide a fully reconstructed bone. A three stage validation was performed on Fragmento: Stages I and II used simulated fragmentary data which was compared to full bones with an error less than 3mm; Stage III compared output from geographic information system (GIS) software with comparable results. This validation process demonstrates the robustness and utility of Fragmento as tool for 3D fragmentary bone matching and full bone reconstruction.