The professional practice of forensic anthropology: Contemporary developments and cross‐disciplinary applications

Abstract

The modern practice of forensic anthropology is focused on the quantification of skeletal variation based upon a qualitative prowess developed according to theory and method in the parent discipline of biological anthropology. Such morphological variances allow estimates of biological attributes, for example, age, sex, population affinity, stature, pathology of disease processes-among others, that collectively may resolve the identification of unknown forensic human remains.The latter is a basic human right under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) afforded to descendants who go missing in armed conflicts and other violence-base situations. The specific traditional methods applied by the forensic anthropologist are well established in the published literature and routinely supported by global research that guides graduate programs designed to train the next generation of practitioners. Important in that cornerstone literature and graduate training regimen are aspects of our practice that are increasingly cross-disciplinary, especially those grounded in the molecular, chemical, and histological sciences. These upper-tier endeavors supplement and many times, validate, the traditional approaches as dictated by case context. This review focuses on evolving cross-disciplinary developments and novel research trends in the analysis of human remains that involve the specific expertise of the forensic anthropologist.

Integrating histology in the analysis of multispecies cremations: A case study from early medieval England

“…Data demonstrate that multispecies cremation burials at Bidford were relatively common, making up about a third of all cremation burials, which mirrors cemetery data from the Core Cremation Zone (Bond, 1996). Results support the conclusion that there was het- Franklin & Marks, 2022). With robust data available to model shrinkage and warping effects of cremation on histological structures, objective metrics may one day be available to identify bone fragments to specific taxa through metric analysis of secondary osteons, spatial analysis of dense Haversian bone organization or relative abundance of histological morphotypes (Lagacé et al, 2020).…”

“…These limitations must be considered when developing a research design. Active research in applied bone histology continues to advance histomorphometric methods (see Maggiano et al, 2021; Franklin & Marks, 2022). With robust data available to model shrinkage and warping effects of cremation on histological structures, objective metrics may one day be available to identify bone fragments to specific taxa through metric analysis of secondary osteons, spatial analysis of dense Haversian bone organization or relative abundance of histological morphotypes (Lagacé et al, 2020).…”

Utilization of Forensic Evidence in the Criminal Justice System

“…Forensic science involves the use of scientific theory in combination with the laboratory methods of more traditional academic natural sciences such as anthropology, DNA analysis, and geology [52]. Some forensic subjects, such as footprinting techniques or fingerprint analysis are rare.…”

An interdisciplinary forensic approach for human remains identification and missing persons investigations

“…Age estimation for the remains of young adults or late adolescents can be assessed through the hand‐wrist complex and medial clavicle from radiographic scans (Franklin et al, 2016), with a recent preliminary study also highlighting the value of the medial clavicle for age estimation in older adults as well (Toutin et al, 2022). The radiographs are further able to detect taphonomic alternation (i.e., both ante‐ and peri‐mortem pathology or trauma) or PM modifications (Franklin & Marks, 2021). Studies have also validated the use of post‐mortem CT (PMCT) for “virtopsy” as a substitute or triaging tool for traditional autopsy for forensic casework applications (Chatzaraki et al, 2018; Le Blanc‐Louvry et al, 2013), with PMCT becoming an integral part of the identification process in some Australian facilities (Blau et al, 2021).…”

“…Developments in portable and digital approaches (i.e., handheld x‐ray and mobile CT scanners) have significantly facilitated the inclusion of radiography in the identification process (Viner & Robson, 2017). The ease of sharing data between practitioners, the ability to re‐assess material, and the printing of images and models can all facilitate effective interpretation of radiographic data for identification (Franklin & Marks, 2021). However, more research is required to assess the accuracy of the technique and standardize the technical parameters for casework (Uldin, 2017).…”