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Jason LinvilleUniversity of Alabama at Birminghamjglinvil@uab.edu

Forensic Anthropology

Role of the Forensic Anthropologist:

� Recover Human Remains

� Identify Human Remains

� Determine Time or Cause of Death

Forensic Anthropology

Education:

� Most forensic anthropologists are specialists in physical anthropology.

Forensic Anthropology

� Work in universities or museums

� Certification available from the American Board of Forensic Anthropology

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Forensic Anthropology

Recovering Human Remains

Forensic Anthropology

Locating Human Remains

� Cadaver dogs� Remote sensing

methods

Forensic Anthropology > Recovering Remains

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� Find small bones or bone fragments

� Recover clothing and trace materials associated with bones

� Prevent damage of bones� Map the location of bones and

maintain chain of custody

Forensic Anthropology > Recovering Remains

Anthropologists can help:

Identifying the remains

Age - look at bone length and bone fusionSex - differences in pelvis, skull, femurStature - size of bonesAncestry - teeth, skull

Forensic Anthropology

Individuality may be determined:� from surgical procedures� from broken bones

Identifying the remains

Forensic Anthropology

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Determining Time of Death

� Anthropologist helpful if soft tissues have decomposed.

� If soft tissue is present, identification can be done by the pathologist.

Forensic Anthropology

� Sharp force trauma (bone cut)� Blunt force trauma (broken bone)� Antemortem vs. postmortem breaks

Determining Cause of Death

Forensic Anthropology

Final Report Should Include:

� Taphonomy (time of death)� Biological profile (age, sex, stature, race)� Individual characteristics� Evidence of possible cause of death

Forensic Anthropology

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Anthropology:� medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics� www.csuchico.edu/anth/ABFA

Odontology:� www.abfo.org

Forensic Anthropology > Web Links