Forensic Anthropology

A forensic investigation requires a team of specialists from many different scientific fields of study along with legal and law enforcement specialists. In recent years, the range of cases on which forensic anthropologists have been consulted has expanded dramatically. The Use of Forensic Anthropology provides these professionals with guidelines for determining how to choose and when to use a forensic anthropologist. The book begins with a historical overview of the field of forensic anthropology, and then presents basic information about how to approach a forensic recovery site. When skeletal or severely decomposed remains are discovered, normal methods of identification such as facial recognition and fingerprinting are ineffective. This book offers insights on how to find the right professional to assist with these difficult cases. One of the key features is a chapter which presents a series of ten questions that must be answered, in order, about each case. Using this checklist will ensure the team working on the case that no stone is left unturned. Later chapters examine the relevance of race, ethnicity, and ancestry, determination of time of death, new investigation techniques, DNA, and categories of trauma. The final chapter brings the various parts of the process together to reconstruct a case. The first responder to a scene with skeletal remains and the law enforcement agencies who become involved will likely be confronted with evidence that they cannot interpret. This volume provides a bridge for these professionals, enabling them to develop a standard protocol for investigating skeletal remains, highlighting important questions that must be answered, and assisting them in finding the right forensic anthropologist to solve the puzzle of an unexplained death.

Presenting a rare glimpse into the various laboratories that involve forensic anthropology, The Forensic Anthropology Laboratory reveals the ways in which anthropologists document, process, and collect data for academic research and practical and legal applications, including time of death, trauma analyses, and the identification of unknown human remains. Drawing from a wide range of sources, the book begins with detailed descriptions of how body donations are received and processed. It includes extraordinary photos documenting the steps taken to ensure that each body part is tracked from the moment it is received through the decomposition and skeletonization processes. Dr. David Hunt, of the Smithsonian Institution, discusses destructive analysis, diagnostic imaging, casting, and all types of anthroposcopic and anthropometric data collection methods. The book also compares the duties of full-time forensic anthropologists in a medical examiner’s office with their academic counterparts, discussing staffing, physical plant concerns, field recovery procedures, and laboratory processing. It stresses the variety of required skills, including fingerprinting and other trace evidence procedures, and highlights casework examples from FACES, illustrating the technology used to establish identifications through facial reconstruction, photographic superimposition, and age progression. Using examples from the World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina, and the Asian Tsunami disasters, the book examines the roles of forensic anthropologists and pathologists as mass fatality responders. It discusses practical issues and explains how and where the mobile disaster morgue can be used, including morgue floor plans and equipment. A one-of-a-kind survey of a variety of forensic anthropology laboratories, the editors provide an insider’s view of functioning laboratories as reported by some of the most respected and prolific anthropologists in clinical, research, and academic settings.

Forensic Anthropology serves as a graduate level text for those studying and teaching forensic anthropology, as well as an excellent reference for forensic anthropologist libraries or for use in casework. Covers taphonomy, recovery and analysis, identification, statistical interpretation, and professional issues. Edited by a world-renowned leading forensic expert, the Advanced Forensic Science Series grew out of the recommendations from the 2009 NAS Report, Strengthening Forensic Science: A Path Forward, and is a long overdue solution for the forensic science community. Provides the basic principles of forensic science and an overview of forensic anthropology Contains sections on taphonomy, recovery, analysis, pathology, and identification Covers statistical interpretation of evidence using the classical-frequentist approach and Bayesian analysis, measurement uncertainty, and standard methods Includes a section on professional issues, such as: from crime scene to court, expert witness testimony, and health and safety Incorporates effective pedagogy, key terms, review questions, discussion questions, and additional reading suggestions

This robust, dynamic, and international field has grown to include interdisciplinary research, continually improving methodology, and globalization of training. Reflecting the diverse nature of the science from experts who have shaped it, Forensic Anthropology: A Comprehensive Introduction Second Edition builds off of the success of the first edition and incorporates standard practices in addition to cutting-edge approaches in a user-friendly format, making it an ideal introductory-level text.

Forensic anthropology has seen a recent expansion in depth and scope as well as increased attention from the media and the legal system. This constantly evolving science requires a comprehensive introductory text that approaches forensic anthropology as a modern discipline, with attention to theory as well as recent advances in research, technology, and challenges in the field. Forensic Anthropology: Current Methods and Practice, 2nd edition approaches forensic anthropology using current practices and case studies drawn from the varied experiences, backgrounds, and practices of working forensic anthropologists. This text guides the reader through all aspects of human remains recovery and forensic anthropological analysis. It presents principles at a level that is appropriate for those new to the field, while at the same time incorporating evolutionary, biomechanical, and other theoretical foundations for the features and phenomena encountered in forensic anthropological casework. Attention is focused on the most recent and scientifically valid applications commonly employed by working forensic anthropologists. Readers will learn about innovative techniques in the discipline, and aspiring practitioners will be prepared by understanding the necessary background needed to work in the field today. Instructors and students will find Forensic Anthropology: Current Methods and Practice, 2nd edition comprehensive, practical, and relevant to the modern discipline of forensic anthropology. Focuses on current methods, advances in research and technology, and recent challenges in the science of forensic anthropology Addresses issues of international relevance such as the role of forensic anthropology in mass disaster response and human rights investigations Includes chapter summaries, topic-oriented case studies, keywords, and reflective questions to increase active student learning

The field of forensic anthropology has evolved dramatically in the past 40 years, as technological advances have led to new research initiatives and extended applications. This robust, dynamic, and international field has grown to include interdisciplinary research, continually improving methodology, and globalization of training. Reflecting the diverse nature of the science from the experts who have shaped it, Forensic Anthropology: An Introduction incorporates standard practices in addition to cutting-edge approaches in a user-friendly format, making it an ideal introductory-level text. The book begins with a historical overview of forensic anthropology and then presents the background and methodology of each specialty area. Designed for readers without previous theory-based or practical physical anthropology course experience, each chapter gives a detailed history and explanation of a particular methodology. Presenting topics within their areas of accomplishment and expertise, the authors include up-to-date analytical techniques and provide examples of these applications in typical casework. Through the book’s accessible style of presentation, readers will gain an in-depth understanding of the history, methods, theory, and future direction of forensic anthropology. Suitable for undergraduate or master’s level students, educators and professionals will also find the currency of information and the high-quality photos and illustrations useful in their practice.

A Laboratory Manual for Forensic Anthropology approaches forensic anthropology as a modern and well-developed science, and includes consideration of forensic anthropology within the broader forensic science community, with extensive use of case studies and recent research, technology and challenges that are applied in field and lab contexts. This book covers all practical aspects of forensic anthropology, from field recoveries, to lab analyses, emphasizing hands-on activities. Topics include human osteology and odontology, examination methods, medicolegal significance, scene processing methods, forensic taphonomy, skeletal processing and sampling, sex estimation, ancestry estimation, age estimation, stature estimation, skeletal variation, trauma analysis, and personal identification. Although some aspects are specific to the United States, the vast majority of the material is internationally-relevant and therefore suitable for forensic anthropology courses in other countries. Provides a comprehensive lab manual that is applicable to coursework in forensic anthropology and archaeology Covers all practical aspects of forensic anthropology, from field recoveries, to lab analyses Includes discussions of human osteology and odontology, examination methods, medicolegal significance, scene processing methods, forensic taphonomy, skeletal processing and sampling, sex estimation, and more Emphasizes best practices in the field, providing an approach that is in line with today's professional forensic anthropology

Recent political, religious, ethnic, and racial conflicts, as well as mass disasters, have significantly helped to bring to light the almost unknown dis- pline of forensic anthropology. This science has become particularly useful to forensic pathologists because it aids in solving various puzzles, such as id- tifying victims and documenting crimes. On topics such as mass disasters and crimes against humanity, teamwork between forensic pathologists and for- sic anthropologists has significantly increased over the few last years. This relationship has also improved the study of routine cases in local medicolegal institutes. When human remains are badly decomposed, partially skelet- ized, and/or burned, it is particularly useful for the forensic pathologist to be assisted by a forensic anthropologist. It is not a one-way situation: when the forensic anthropologist deals with skeletonized bodies that have some kind of soft tissue, the advice of a forensic pathologist would be welcome. Forensic anthropology is a subspecialty/field of physical anthropology. Most of the background on skeletal biology was gathered on the basis of sk- etal remains from past populations. Physical anthropologists then developed an indisputable “know-how”; nevertheless, one must keep in mind that looking for a missing person or checking an assumed identity is quite a different matter. Pieces of information needed by forensic anthropologists require a higher level of reliability and accuracy than those granted in a general archaeological c- text. To achieve a positive identification, findings have to match with e- dence, particularly when genetic identification is not possible.