Observation on the closure of cranial sutures to estimate age from skull bones in Jharkhand population

Abstract

Identification is recognition of an individual by means of various physical features and biological parameters, which are unique to each individual. There are various established parameters for identification of an individual. These are external features (such as birth marks, scar, tattoo marks , occupational marks, malformations), personal features (such as clothes, speech, habits, intelligence, handwriting), assessment of age and sex, determination of race and stature, anthropometric measurements, finger prints, foot prints, lip prints, DNA finger printing and DNA profile, etc. Question of identification arises in every medico legal case be it civil or criminal. The determination of sex is a major criterion for the identification of an individual. It segregates lot of cases for easy and quick identification in a given sample. Age estimation is an integral part of the biological profile in achieving an identification of unknown deceased individual.