Lesson 1 - Determining Ancestry and Sex from Human Skeletal Remains

Overview

- Image Source: Ccourtesy of Dr. Sue Black, Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee.

Defining Forensic Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of the biological and cultural aspects of humankind in any place at any time. Two sub-fields of anthropology are

Forensic anthropology is a specialized field of forensic science in which the goal is to analyze and interpret the human remains of unexplained deaths. Forensic anthropologists conduct their work by analyzing human skeletons or decomposing remains to extract as much information about the person and the circumstances surrounding his or her death. Forensic anthropologists provide this valuable information to a medical examiner, pathologist, or law enforcement officer. A forensic anthropologist analyzes remains according to the following list of questions:

  1. Are the remains skeletal?
  2. Are the skeletal remains human or animal?
  3. Are the skeletal remains modern or historical?
  4. How many individuals are present?
  5. Is there evidence of time since the death?
  6. What is the age, sex, stature, and ancestry of each individual?
  7. What are the individualizing features of the remains?
  8. Is there evidence that can aid in establishing the cause and manner of death?

The forensic anthropologist creates an osteobiography (bone story) about the deceased remains they examine. This osteobiography includes a description of age, sex, stature, ancestry, and individualizing features such as previous illnesses, genetic abnormalities, and trauma. Determining the age, sex, stature, and ancestry helps to determine if the individual is a missing person. Identification of individualizing features may help to identify a person positively. Forensic anthropologists also look for signs of recent trauma that may have been the cause of death.

"Forensic anthropology is specialized and noble. It is science in the service of humanity."

- Source: Dr. Stanley Rhine, Ph.D. Foreword in Introduction to Forensic Anthropology: A Textbook. Allyn & Bacon (2002).

The student will…

  • recognize that in the field of forensic anthropology information about the victim of a crime and the nature of the crime itself is determined from unknown skeletal remains
  • understand that a forensic anthropologist attempts to determine the following information from unknown skeletal remains: whether the remains are human or non-human, number of individuals found, time of death, sex of individual(s), ancestry of individual(s), stature of individual(s), and cause of death
  • describe some of the basic skeletal differences between human and animal bones (such as ribs and upper and lower limbs)
  • state some of the basic skeletal differences between humans from various ancestries or races (such as Negroid, Caucasoid, Mongoloid)
  • identify some of the basic skeletal differences between female and male remains
  • perform a research study that compares the size and length of various bones in males and females

Glossary Term: Cultural Anthropology

  • The observation over time of norms, customs, political, economic, and religious systems in a culture

Glossary Term: Physical of Biological Anthropology

  • The identification and interpretation of human evolution and variation in humans

Glossary Term: Pathologist

  • A doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope

Glossary Term: Osteobiography

  • Information about an individual's appearance, health, age at death, cause of death, and other characteristics derived from an analysis of skeletal remains

Glossary Term: Stature

  • Natural height of a person in an upright position