Comparative Osteology

'Comparative Osteology' is a photographic atlas of common North American animal bones designed for use as a laboratory and field guide by the forensic scientist or archaeologist.

In the forensic context it is quite common for nonhuman bones to be confused with human remains and end up in the medical examiner or coroner system. It is also quite common for skeletal remains (both human and nonhuman) to be discovered in archaeological contexts. While the difference between human and nonhuman bones is often very striking, it can also be quite subtle. Fragmentation only compounds the problem. The ability to differentiate between human and nonhuman bones is dependent on the training of the analyst and the available reference and/or comparative material. Comparative Osteology is a photographic atlas of common North American animal bones designed for use as a laboratory and field guide by the forensic scientist or archaeologist. The intent of the guide is not to be inclusive of all animals, but rather to present some of the most common species which also have the highest likelihood of being potentially confused with human remains. An affordably priced, compact laboratory/field manual, comparing human and nonhuman bones Contains almost 600 high-quality black and white images and diagrams, including inch and centimeter scales with each photograph Written by the foremost forensic scientists with decades of experience in the laboratory and as expert witnesses An additional Companion Web site hosts images from the volume the reader can magnify and zoom into to see specific landmarks and features on bones http://booksite.academicpress.com/9780123884374

This book is the result of an investigation of the osteology in the turtle (Trachemys callirostris callirostris) and the morrocoya or morrocoy (Chelonoidis carbonaria), motivated by the need to identify at the level of species, multiple fragments of turtles that we recovered in the excavations of archeological sites. This level of detail is justified, since only in this way it is possible to derive from such studies valuable information about fundamental aspects for the reconstruction of human trajectories such as the interaction between humans and the enviroment, different species, biogeographic history and, in general, the cultural patterns associated with the appropriation of the Fauna.

Building on the success, and maintaining the format, of Comparative Bone Identification: Human Subadult and Non-Human (ISBN: 9780367777883), Comparative Bone Identification: Human Subadult and Non-Human – A Field Guide presents new images of human bones representing many states of maturation from neonate to 20 years old in comparison to a variety of animal species’ bones. Highly illustrated, the book takes a visual approach and provides full annotations pointing out salient features of the most commonly discovered bones. This includes smaller bones of fetuses and subadult humans in comparison to bones of birds, reptiles, marine mammals, fish, and a frog that human bones may most be confused with. Full-color photos provide clear examples for use by law enforcement, medicolegal death investigators, forensic anthropologists, students, and readers who wish to distinguish between human bones and those of a variety of animal species. The book is not intended to be an exhaustive guide to human and nonhuman skeletons. It offers myriad photos and illustrations to help aid in identification and avoid some of the more commonly confused animal bones for human. The book begins with an introduction section on general osteology and explains the major anatomical differences between humans and other animals. The second section compares human and nonhuman bones, categorized by type of bone, and includes most of the major bones in humans and nonhumans. The third section presents of radiographs illustrated documented age in humans. Conveniently designed for field use, Comparative Bone Identification: Human Subadult to Nonhuman – A Field Guide offers users a practical comparative guide that presents the differences among species for nearly all bones in the body. The book serves as a valuable resource of easy-to-access information to investigators and forensic anthropologists for use in the laboratory or in the field.