Antropologia Forense

InsIde ForensIc scIence

Forensic Anthropology

InsIde ForensIc scIence
Forensic Anthropology Forensic dnA Analysis Forensic Medicine Forensic Pharmacology Legal Aspects of Forensics The Forensic Aspects of Poisons

InsIde ForensIc scIence

Forensic Anthropology
Bradley J. Adams, Ph.D.
SERIES EDITOR

| Lawrence Kobilinsky, Ph.D.

Forensic Anthropology Copyright © 2007 byInfobase Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Chelsea House An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 ISBN-10:0-7910-9198-8 ISBN-13: 978-0-7910-9198-2 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Adams, Bradley J. Forensic anthropology / Bradley J. Adams. p. cm. — (Inside forensic science) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7910-9198-8 (hardcover) 1. Forensic anthropology—Juvenile literature. I. Title. II. Series. GN69.8.A33 2006 614'.17—dc22 2006011030 Chelsea House books areavailable at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Chelsea House on the World Wide Web at http://www.chelseahouse.com Text design by Annie O’Donnell Cover design by Ben Peterson Printed in the United States of America BangFOF 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 This book is printed on acid-free paper. All links and Web addresses were checked and verified to be correct at the time of publication. Because of the dynamic nature of the Web, some addresses and links may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. *The views expressed in this book are Dr. Adams’ alone and not necessarily those of the City of New York.Table of Contents
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Introduction to Forensic Anthropology Applications and Basic Terminology Recovery Procedures Biological Profile: Age Biological Profile: Race/Ancestry, Sex, and Stature Assessing Trauma and Time Since Death Analytical Challenges Positive Identification Conclusion
Notes Glossary Bibliography Further Reading Index

1 8 22 31 42 50 65 76 82 84 86 90 94 98Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
On the 4th of July in 2005, a couple was walking along an access road on Randall’s Island in New York City. The man observed a bone near the side of the road and playfully tossed it at his girlfriend. They then became concerned that the bone might actually be human and called the police. Detectives from the New York City Police Department and investigatorsfrom the Office of Chief Medical Examiner responded to the scene and noticed other bones scattered in the area that they believed to be human. At this point, the location was treated as a crime scene and a call went out for anthropological assistance. It became of critical importance to determine first, if the bones were indeed human, and second, if they were of medicolegal significance, that is,if they might be part of a recent crime or missing person case. The analysis of human skeletal remains within the medicolegal context is called forensic anthropology, and those who practice it are forensic anthropologists. Large cities such as New York City may have a forensic anthropologist on staff who works for the medical examiner’s office. In other cases, a forensic anthropologist may work ata university and serve as a consultant on call for various agencies.

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Forensic Anthropology

Once the forensic anthropologist arrived on the Randall’s Island scene, it was immediately determined that the bones were indeed human. Forensic anthropologists are familiar with every feature of the human skeleton, the range of variation between individuals, and the differences...