Forensic archaeology and scene processing methods

Christensen, Angi M.; Passalacqua, Nicholas V.; Bartelink, Eric J.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-815734-3.00006-3

Cited by 24 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Nonhuman remains comprise a significant portion (25–30%) of total cases assessed by forensic anthropologists [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] and can represent more than 90% of skeletal cases submitted to medical examiner offices [ 1 ]. Although forensic anthropologists mentally assess bone size and shape when determining skeletal species, only one other published study was found that assessed the utility of basic long bone osteometrics in differentiating human from nonhuman remains.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Forensic anthropologists are commonly approached by law enforcement, coroners, and medical examiners with an unknown skeletal element and faced with a simple question: is this human [ 1 , 2 ] Well-trained forensic anthropologists know the human skeletal system in meticulous detail, and unless the skeletal element has been highly modified (e.g., extreme fragmentation, burning, etc. ), they can usually differentiate human from nonhuman remains without hesitation [ 3 ]. Forensic anthropologists visually assess the bone, determining the element type (e.g., humerus, femur, tibia, etc.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Forensic anthropologists visually assess the bone, determining the element type (e.g., humerus, femur, tibia, etc.) and whether it is consistent with human anatomy based on its size (given its developmental state), shape, and bony features [ 3 ]. This macroscopic assessment is usually concluded without metric analyses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If the bone is nonhuman, a forensic anthropologist is faced with an inevitable follow-up question: what is it? This question is more than mere curiosity because it provides verifiable evidence to support the forensic anthropologist’s nonhuman designation [ 3 ]. An incorrect faunal species identification can affect the forensic anthropologist’s credibility, even if it is not of forensic importance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forensic Tools for Species Identification of Skeletal Remains: Metrics, Statistics, and OsteoID

Garvin

Dunn

Sholts

et al. 2021

Biology

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Although nonhuman remains constitute a significant portion of forensic anthropological casework, the potential use of bone metrics to assess the human origin and to classify species of skeletal remains has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to assess the utility of quantitative methods in distinguishing human from nonhuman remains and present additional resources for species identification. Over 50,000 measurements were compiled from humans and 27 nonhuman (mostly North American) species. Decision trees developed from the long bone data can differentiate human from nonhuman remains with over 90% accuracy (>98% accuracy for the human sample), even if all long bones are pooled. Stepwise discriminant function results were slightly lower (>87.4% overall accuracy). The quantitative models can be used to support visual identifications or preliminarily assess forensic significance at scenes. For species classification, bone-specific discriminant functions returned accuracies between 77.7% and 89.1%, but classification results varied highly across species. From the study data, we developed a web tool, OsteoID, for users who can input measurements and be shown photographs of potential bones/species to aid in visual identification. OsteoID also includes supplementary images (e.g., 3D scans), creating an additional resource for forensic anthropologists and others involved in skeletal species identification and comparative osteology.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forensic Tools for Species Identification of Skeletal Remains: Metrics, Statistics, and OsteoID

Garvin

Dunn

Sholts

et al. 2021

Biology

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“…When modern skeletons are discovered, anthropologists and the medicolegal community want to know the identity and circumstances of the death of that individual. To pursue identification, they may estimate the individual’s biological profile (i.e., age, ancestry/population affinity, sex, and stature), describe individualizing features, and compare ante- and postmortem data, e.g., [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ]. They are also interested in the circumstances surrounding the death event, illustrated by perimortem trauma and taphonomic alterations, and potentially estimating a postmortem interval, e.g., [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic Anthropology as a Discipline

Passalacqua

Pilloud

Congram

2021

Biology

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This paper explores the current state of forensic anthropology in the United States as a distinct discipline. Forensic anthropology has become increasingly specialized and the need for strengthened professionalization is becoming paramount. This includes a need for clearly defined qualifications, training, standards of practice, certification processes, and ethical guidelines. Within this discussion, the concept of expertise is explored in relation to professionalization and practice, as both bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology have different areas of specialist knowledge, and therefore unique expertise. As working outside one’s area of expertise is an ethical violation, it is important for professional organizations to outline requisite qualifications, develop standards and best practice guidelines, and enforce robust preventive ethical codes in order to serve both their professional members and relevant stakeholders.

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Experimental and numerical study on failure mechanisms of bone simulants subjected to projectile impact

Żochowski

Cegła

Berent

et al. 2023

Numer Methods Biomed Eng

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Analyses of the human bones failure mechanisms under projectile impact conditions can be made through performing of a large number of ballistic trials. But the amount of data that can be collected during ballistic experiments is limited due to the high dynamics of the process and its destructive character. Numerical analyses may support experimental methodologies allowing to better understand the principles of the phenomenon. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to create and to verify a numerical model of commercially available synthetic bone material-Synbone ® . The model could be used in the future as a supporting tool facilitating forensic studies or designing processes of personal protection systems (helmets, bulletproof vests, etc.). Although Synbone ® is commonly used in the ballistic experiments, the literature lacks reliable numerical models of this material. In order to define a numerical model of Synbone ® , mechanical experiments characterizing the response of the material to the applied loads in a wide range of strains and strain rates were carried out. Based on the mechanical tests results, an appropriate material model was selected for the Synbone ® composite and the values of constants in its equations were determined. Material characterization experiments were subsequently reproduced with numerical simulations and a high correlation of the results was obtained. The final validation of the material model was based on the comparison of the ballistic impact experiments and simulation results. High similarity obtained (relative error lower than 10%) demonstrates that the numerical model of Synbone ® material was properly defined.ballistic impact, beveling effect, numerical modeling, projectile, Synbone ® , synthetic bone | INTRODUCTIONWhen human bone is perforated with small caliber projectiles, characteristic fracture patterns are generated in the internal structure of the bone. A nearly circular hole in the proximal cortical layer (with a diameter slightly larger than

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Forensic archaeology and scene processing methods

Cited by 24 publications

References 2 publications

Forensic Tools for Species Identification of Skeletal Remains: Metrics, Statistics, and OsteoID

Forensic Tools for Species Identification of Skeletal Remains: Metrics, Statistics, and OsteoID

Forensic Anthropology as a Discipline

Experimental and numerical study on failure mechanisms of bone simulants subjected to projectile impact

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