Ancestry in Human Remains Analyses

ANCESTRY IN HUMAN REMAINS ANALYSES

Instructor: Dr. Kori Lea Filipek
Disclaimer: Contains images and language associated with the history of scientific racism, which may be considered offensive.

MID-MODULE FEEDBACK

Feedback page filled with positive affirmations to the instructor, complimenting them and expressing appreciation for their teaching style. Notable phrases include:

  • "You are fantastic!"

  • "You're an inspiration!"

  • Comment indicating a humorous sentiment: "If I had one hour to live, I'd spend it in this class because it feels like an eternity."

REVIEW FROM PREVIOUS

  • The human skeleton not only provides a foundation for our body, but it also forms the basis of forensic anthropology practices.

  • Bioprofiling/Osteoprofiling methods include:

    • Sex Estimation

    • Age Estimation

    • Ancestry

    • Variation

    • Pathology

    • Trauma

  • It is noted that many methods in forensic anthropology are experiential sciences, indicating reliance on practical experience and hands-on work.

QUESTIONS ON ANCESTRY

  • What is your ancestry?

  • What information do forensic anthropologists aim to assess in ancestry estimations?

  • Aims of the session include:

    • Introduction to the history of assessing "race" in forensic science.

    • Gaining knowledge of methods used in forensic anthropology to assess ancestry.

    • Critically assessing ethical issues surrounding ancestry estimation practices.

    • Discussing benefits and limitations of ancestry estimation in forensic anthropology.

WHAT IS ANCESTRY?

  • Definition: Ancestry refers to an individual's ancestral geographical origin.

  • Along with age, sex, and stature estimations, ancestry estimation from human skeletal remains is one of the four basic parameters of the biological profile used in forensic anthropology.

  • Despite its relevance for medicolegal identification, it faces condemnation for being a racialized reinforcement of false conceptions of biological races—a legacy from early anthropological studies connecting racial hierarchies with purported morphological differences.

  • Statement: "There is nothing in your skeleton that will indicate your skin color."

ASSESSMENT OF ANCESTRY

  • Key Note: Ancestry is not equivalent to race; the concept of biological race does not exist.

  • Forensic anthropologists estimate ancestry by examining skeletons, considering geographically patterned human variations. This estimation often combines biological and social factors, creating a complex interplay of self-identity and external perception influenced by geopolitical contexts.

  • The relationship between culture and biology complicates the estimation of ancestry compared to other aspects of the osteological profile.

CURRENT PRACTICE BASED ON THE THREE REGION MODEL

  • The three region model is utilized in the identification of unknown individuals, helping to narrow the pool of potential matches with missing persons.

METHODS OF ANCESTRY ESTIMATION

  • Cranial Metrics (Craniometry):

    • Involves quantitative measurement of skull dimensions using predetermined landmarks.

    • Calculates inter-landmark distances and estimates the biological relatedness of groups using Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) or Linear Discriminant Function Analysis (LDFA).

    • Crucial references for measurement standards include:

    • Langley et al. (2016): Data Collection Procedures for Forensic Skeletal Material.

    • Buikstra & Ubelaker (1994): Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains.

    • The 24 most common measures capture the overall craniofacial complex and can be accomplished using sliding and spreading calipers.

    • Acknowledgment that postcranial ancestry estimation remains poorly understood.

Statistical Ancestry Models

  • Cranial Nonmetrics (Morphoscopic Traits):

    • Based on qualitative morphology of the skull, analyzing traits that vary in presence or absence.

    • Utilizes statistical methods for scoring and estimating ancestry, such as the Optimized Summed Scoring Attributes (OSSA).

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON RACE

  • Hooton recognized cranial nonmetric traits' utility and standardization needs. His Harvard List aimed at trait standardization, although it devolved into a simple trait list approach lacking robustness in court admissibility, thus not meeting Daubert principles.

  • Notable is the historical reliance on outdated morphoscopic classifications.

  • Comparison of traditional categorizations among different skull types (Mongoloid, Caucasoid, Negroid) along with visual imagery exemplifies the antiquated classification systems.

ISSUE OF RACIAL CLASSIFICATIONS

  • There remains a problematic reliance on these outdated morphoscopic classifications which continues to influence modern forensic practices. The chapter highlights the controversies and debates over craniometrics and the practice of using these classifications in race-focused analysis.

IMPLICATIONS OF ANCESTRY ESTIMATION

  • Ancestry estimation must be approached with caution due to ethical implications, especially concerning how it perpetuates notions of race, historically tied to issues like the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and ongoing discriminatory practices.

ANCESTRY ESTIMATION AND RACE

  • It's stressed that race is not a biologically valid category, but a socially constructed reality that influences human societal organization and interactions.

  • Race does not represent clear biological distinctions, as shown by contemporary understandings of anthropological studies and biological variations in populations.

SOCIO-CULTURAL DYNAMICS AND ANCESTRY

  • The course encourages students to critically analyze how ancestry estimation practices can embody or challenge racial prejudices and injustices pervasive in society.

  • The role of forensic anthropology must be reconsidered to ensure that it does not further reinforce these biases.

SUMMARY OF KEY CONCEPTS

  1. Ancestry vs. Race: Clear distinction made that ancestry relates to geographical origin, whereas race is a social construct linked to discrimination and historical hierarchies.

  2. Ethical Considerations: The importance of considering the implications of ancestry assessments within forensic anthropology, particularly regarding historical injustices.

  3. Scientific Validity: Addressing the shortcomings of using craniometry and morphoscopic traits in race classification and the need for more contemporary and ethically sensitive methodologies.

DEBATE SUMMARY

  • Engaging discussions prompt students to consider the role and responsibility of forensic anthropology in societal perceptions of race and ancestry while fostering a greater understanding of biological variation without perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

CALL TO ACTION

The overarching question presented is the necessity of ancestry estimation in contemporary society, considering the potential to reinforce or dismantle existing racial biases. The challenge put forth to students is to think critically about the future of anthropology, ensuring that it serves justice and equity rather than perpetuating historical harms.