Alphonse Bertillon (1853–1914) developed the “signaletic” anthropometric system known as
bertillonage
that was used to identify criminals in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Bertillonage
is based on 11 anthropometric measurements, the combination of which was thought to be unique to the individual.
Bertillonage
as a criminal identification tool was eventually replaced by fingerprint analysis, which requires less training and equipment, is more individualizing, and can be performed in the absence of the individual in question. Alphonse Bertillon is also notable for introducing the “mug shot” photographic standard, and for pioneering forensic photography.
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