exam 1 forenisc anthro study guide

Thomas Dwight

Known as “Father of Forensic Anthro” and gave early lectures on skeletal analysis in legal contexts. “Shattuck Lecture”

Franz Boas

One of the first to look, document, and compare biological and cultural differences between generations of immigrants.

Ales Hrdlicka

1st curator of physical (bio) anthro at Smithsonian museum and found of American Association of Physical Anthro.

Wilton Krogman

Advanced forensic anthro though applied casework and early FBI publications. wrote “The human skeleton in forensic medicine” aka first nook devoted to studying human bones in forensic context.

T. Dale Stewart

helped consolidate forensic anthro and wrote “Essentials of Forensic Anthro”

William M. Bass

Established the first body farm, or human decomposition research facility.

William R. Maples

Founder of C.A. Pound Human Identification Lab at Uni of Florida and made the most comprehensive forensic anthro practice in the U.S.

Which factor most limits the direct applicability of data derived from early documented skeletal collections (e.g., Hamann–Todd, Terry) to contemporary (more recent) forensic cases?

Demographic and health biases in the sampled populations.

What is Anthropology?

The study of humans & their ancestors across space & time.

What does Anthropology study?

Diseased and Living human beings

What time frame does Anthro focus on? (At least in this class)

Around 3~5 million years ago.

Where is Anthropology studied?

Everywhere!!!

Anthropology is…?

Study of social behavior, natural & biological science. It’s a holistic discipline!

Who was the father of American Anthropology?

Franz Boas

How was Franz Boas significant?

Father of American Anthro by being one of the first to observe, document, and compare the biological & cultural differences between generations of immigrants.

How many subdisciplines of Anthropology are there?

4 subdisciplines

What are the 4 subdisciplines of Anthro?

Cultural, Biological (physical), Archeology, Linguistic

What does the Cultural subdiscipline study?

Studies the traditions, beliefs, taboos, religion, social behaviors, parenting, and more.

How is the Cultural subdiscipline studied?

By participant observation.

What does the Linguistic subdiscipline study?

Studies the form, function, and use of language in the social and cultural aspect.

What does the Archaeologic subdiscipline study?

Studies how ppl used to live through excavation, analysis, and interpretation of material remains.

What are some (not all) of the material remains that Archaeology subdiscipline study?

Artifacts, structures, art, environments, and cemeteries.

How does the archaeological analysis occur?

By studying the material & origin together.

What does the biological/physical subdiscipline study?

Studies human biological evolution & diversity.

How is biological subdiscipline studied?

By observing the evolution of humans, ancestors, & primates.

What specifically does the subdiscipline study when looking at evolution of the similar species.

Comparative anatomy , biological variation, cultural impact, and etc.

Can the environment affect genes? How could it be important?

Yes, the environment a living being is raised in could change behavior. It’s important bc growth & development shows life history.

What is biological plasticity?

The ability to change & adapt.

What is primatology?

Study of primate diversity, biology, evolution, behavior, and more.

What is forensic anthro?

Analysis of human skeletal remains in a medicolegal context.

Why is forensic anthro apart of anthro?

Because of how many similar skills it needs that most of the other subdisciplines use too:

Biological - Osteology, comparative anatomy, genetics, human biological variation, and how a body can grow/change over time.

Archeological - Taphonomy and field methods

Cultural - Cultural differences and practices for identification and correct interpretation of the crime

What was/were the important achievements in the history of anthro from the Formative Period?

The first case that identified skeletal remains for convicting a person (Luetgert Murder). One of the first skeletal collections made by Hamann-Todd and Terry. They collected bones from the very poor and over-worked class, making those bones a bad representation of the entire population.

Important achievement(s) during the Consolidation Period?

The Central Identification Laboratory (CILHI) was made which collected & identified bodies of fallen American soldiers from past conflicts like Korean, Vietnam, Civil War, etc.)

Important achievement(s) during the Modern Period?

American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) and American Board of Forensic Anthro (ABFA) were created which helped people expand the field, set professional standards, make it professional, and expand research about it.

Important achievement(s) of the Fourth Era: New Millennium (2000 to Present)?

Broadened research goals, new techniques invented, certification & accreditation of individuals and laboratories, more international attention, more educational programs & opportunities.

What questions need to be answered to determine if the material is medicolegally important?

→ Is it skeletal or non-skeletal remains?

→ Is the skeletal material of a human or non-human?

→ Is the skeletal material recent or non-recent?

What matters when someone dies?

→ Who?

→ When?

→ Why?

→ How?

→ Where?

→ If known, who did it?

What is the cause of death?

Medical diagnosis of the precise mechanism of death. Ex: Death from gunshot wound to the head or drug overdose.

What is the manner of death?

Circumstances surrounding the death and the legal determination of it based on evidence. Ex: Homicide, Natural, Accidental, Suicide, or Undetermined.

What are attended deaths and how are they investigated?

Deaths that happened while the person was under the care of a physician (doctor). These deaths aren’t typically investigated as most of them are expected and a medical professional can rule out other causes. The physicians also sign the death certificate.

What are unattended deaths and how are they investigated?

Deaths that happened as a result of a traumatic injury or victim wasn’t under the care of supervision of an physician (doctor), making it harder to find the cause of death. These are always investigated by the Coroner or/and Medical Examiners.

How do you become a coroner?

Get elected and work bc you don’t need a medical degree. Also the coroner system budget is very low.

Duties of a coroner are…?

ID the body, collect belongings, tell the family, sign the death certificate, determine jurisdiction and if an autopsy is needed.

How do you become a Medical Examiner?

Get appointed or hired AND must have medical degrees as they are legally considered doctors.

Duties of a medical examiner?

Identifying the body, cause, manner, and time of death. They also look over previous medical history, listen to witness statement, scene examination, autopsy, and issue the death certificate.

Rigor Mortis

When the body’s muscles stiffen up.

Algor Mortis

When the body’s temperature changes (usually cools down).

Livor Mortis

When the blood settles in places where gravity acts upon it most. It causes discoloration on the skin

Vitreous Humors

The eye liquid changes color.

Why is PMI important?

It helps build a clearer outline of the events that gone down, which could help verify alibis, find suspects, and identify more victims.

What factors can affect the speed of decomposition?

Temperature, moisture, accessibility (for bacteria and insects) - pH & O₂ levels, body position.

Stages of decomposition:

1. Fresh

2. Bloat

3. Active Decay

4. Advanced Decay

5. Dry Remains

The 4 stages of decomposition:

1. Autolysis: the CO₂ and other waste material create an acidic environment which causes cells to break down. Those broken cells’ enzymes start eating the body. ALSO rigor mortis sets in, the body creates nutrient-packed blisters both in the organs and skin. When blisters pop, skin starts to peel

2. Bloat: Body starts filling up with fumes because of all the digestion the enzymes are producing. Bacteria releases sulfuric compounds making the skin to discolor and insects start eating at the body.

3. Active decay: organs start liquifying and oozing out of the body, making the body lose its mass.

4. Skeletonization: “timeline varies”

Decompositon timeline (approxiomate):

24-27 hrs postmortem → internal organs decompose (autolysis)

5-7 days postmortem → bloat and bloody-foam leaks out

Several weeks postmortem → active decay, nails & teeth fall out

Month(s) postmortem → body starts to liquify + skeletonization

What else helps determine PMI?

1. Insect activity: the life cycle is very predictable (which is found by measuring the temp of the body). Can also confirm the season, geographical location, & personal habits of the diseased.

2. Animal Scavenging: usually appear after decomposition is complete to snatch the bones.

3. Forensic Botany: presence of certain growth under the remains can tell the personal habits, time of year, time of death, location, and more.

4. Decay of clothing: Certain fabrics like rayon & nylon show little decomposition.

What is Taphonomy and why is it useful?

The process that affects the remains from death and until recovery. help investigators understand everything that happens to & around the body during PMI. (NOT PMI!!!!)

Canid scavenging:

Bones show puncture marks, crushed ends, or missing elements.

Root etching

Curved and intersecting lines on bone.

Rodent gnawing

Bones may have parallel striations

Sun bleaching

Bones look whitened and sometimes cracked

Weathering

Cracking and delamination from repeating wet-dry cycles.

Peri-mortem trauma on bones:

Smooth edges, spiraling on long bones, color at fracture same as surrounding surface.

Post-mortem trauma on bones:

Jagged/irregular edges, transverse orientation (long vertical crack), color at fracture lighter than surrounding base.

What are the goals of scene investigation?

→ Linking suspect(s) to victim(s) & crime/death scene(s).

What processes/methods are used to achieve goals of scene investigation?

1. Recognition (scene survey, documentation, collection)

2. Identification (comparison testing)

3. Individualization (evaluation, interpretation)

4. Reconstruction (Reporting, presentation)

Goals of Search and Recovery:

1. Find location of remains using least invasive techniques

2. Secure the scene - evidence integrity

3. Record where the remains were found

4. Record relationship among elements on scene

5. Discover method of body disposal

6. Map site for reconstruction later

7. Properly remove all biological evidence from the scene

What are non-invasive methods used for?

To preserve the crime scene as much as possible.

Examples of non-invasive methods?

Satellite, aerial imaging, remote sensing, detection/line/grid searches, cadaver dogs.

What is the line search pattern used for?

Large open areas

What is the grid search pattern used for?

Dense or varied terrain areas

What is the circular search pattern used for?

Small areas and underwater

What are invasive search methods used for?

For many reasons: like retrieval of the body, analyzing plants growing around or through body, better analysis of the material, and to find hidden evidence.

What are invasive search methods?

Methods that irreversibly alter the crime scene and sometimes damage the evidence

What are some items used in a non-invasive search?

flag patterns, sketches, photographs, and photography

What are some items used in a invasive search?

Penetrometer, soil probes, test pits, trenches.

How is the crime scene mapped out?

By setting up a datum (a stable and unmoving reference point) and label it. a grid is created around the body and associated objects. Those objects are measured on grid and added to a map, which is sketched out in relation to datum.

What is one invasive search method?

Excavation. sometimes uses heavy machinery but it removes dirt for smaller evidence and the dirt is removed one layer at a time.