Description
Book SynopsisAn essential foundation for the practice of forensic anthropology This text is the first of its level written in more than twenty years. It serves as a summary and guide to the core material that needs to be mastered and evaluated for the practice of forensic anthropology.
Trade Review"I enthusiastically recommend
Fundamentals of Forensic Anthropology as reading in upper level forensic anthropology courses…both strongly theoretical and practical. I also recommend it to all forensic-science professionals as a helpful reference to have at hand." (
The Applied Anthropologist, Spring 2008, reviewed by Gabrielle Jones)
"[The author] sets the standard for how textbooks should be engagingly written with clarity and humor." (reviewed by Jeri DeYoung, The Applied Anthropologist, Spring 2008)
"…a valuable addition to the forensic science literature…essential." (CHOICE, June 2007)
"...an important contribution from a well versed and experienced forensic anthropologist, and will serve as a useful summary of the state of the science today." (American Journal of Physical Anthropology, March 2007)
"...the first of its level written in more than twenty years...an essential foundation for the practice of forensic anthropology." (SirReadaLot.org, August 2006)
Table of ContentsPhoto Credits ix
Acknowledgments xi
Series Introduction xiii
Part I Background Setting For Forensic Anthropology
1 Introduction 3
Overview of the Field 3
Education and Training 5
Overview of the Book 6
2 The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Historical Context 8
The Somewhat Difficult Birth of a Specialty 8
The Middle Years 11
Approaching Senescence? 15
Part II Towards Personal Identification
3 Initial Assessments of Skeletal Remains 19
Human or Not? 20
Number of Individuals Represented 22
4 Assignment of Sex 25
Criteria for Sex Attribution in the Adult Skeleton 25
Pelvic Traits 26
The Skull 28
Visual Assessment 30
Discriminant Function Analysis 31
The Appendicular Bones 33
Femur 33
Humerus 34
Other Appendicular Elements 35
Miscellaneous Axial Bones 36
Attribution of Sex from the Skeletons of Children 37
Figuring the Error Rate 39
5 Age Estimation 42
The Early Years 43
Dental Age 44
Bone Age 46
Long Bone Length 46
Union of Primary Ossification Centers 48
Epiphyseal Fusion 49
The Adult Years 53
Macroscopic Methods 53
Face of the Pubic Symphysis 53
Sternal Extremity of the Rib 55
The Auricular Surface 56
Cranial Suture Closure 57
Dental Methods 58
Microscopic Methods 60
Other Age Indicators 62
Concluding Remarks on Adult Age Estimation 63
6 Deciphering Ancestral Background 64
The Biological and the Cultural 64
The Biological Context 65
The Cultural Component 65
Skeletal Indicators 66
The Skull 66
The Postcranium 75
7 Stature Estimation 77
How Tall Are You, Really? 77
Estimation of Living Stature from Skeletal Remains 78
The Fully Method 79
Stature Estimation From Long Bone Length 80
Comparison of Methods 82
Reporting Stature Estimates 83
Correcting Stature Estimates for Older Adults 84
Secular Trend 86
Stature Estimates from Fragmentary Long Bones 86
Stature Estimation from Short Bone Length 87
Footwear and Foot Length 87
8 Skeletal Markers of Activity and Life History 89
Childbirth Indicators 90
Handedness 91
Other Activity Markers 92
Partial Medical History 94
Medical Radiology 96
Part III Principal Anthropological Roles In Medical–Legal Investigation
9 Trauma 101
Blunt Force Trauma 102
Cranial Fracture 102
Hyoid Fracture 105
Postcranial Fracture 106
Child Abuse 106
Penetrating and Perforating Trauma 109
Gunshot Wounds 109
Sharp Injuries 114
10 The Postmortem Period 117
Estimation of the Postmortem Interval 117
Postmortem Events 122
Carnivore Scavenging 123
Cremation 124
Has the Body Been Burned? 125
Fracturing 126
Bone Shrinkage 129
Dismemberment 129
Ritual Use of Skeletal Material 130
11 Professionalism, Ethics, and the Expert Witness 132
The Expert Witness 133
Standards and Credentials for Expert Testimony 134
Some Practical Issues 136
Ethics 137
Science in the Courtroom: Two Unfortunate Examples 139
When Good Science is not Presented 139
When Good Science is Ignored 143
12 Genetics and DNA 145
Serology and Mendelian Genetics 146
Forensic DNA Analysis 147,
Legal Considerations 150
References 152
Index 175
