Published: 2018-01-29
Research Articles
Craniometric Variation in a Regional Sample from Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
Implications for Forensic Work in the Americas
Abstract
Population affinity estimation is frequently assessed from measurements of the cranium. Traditional models place individuals into discrete...
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a Tool for Positive Identification from Frontal Sinus Radiographs
AbstractFrontal sinus radiographs are frequently used to identify human remains. However, the method of visually comparing antemortem (AM) to postmortem...
Evaluating Graduate Student Diversity in Forensic Anthropology
AbstractIn this paper we explore why graduate programs with a focus in forensic anthropology typically lack racial and ethnic diversity. Specifically,...
The (Mis)appropriation of Biological Anthropology in Race Science and the Implications for Forensic Anthropology
AbstractMost biological anthropologists acknowledge that phenotypic human variation is distinct from human race. However, there is the potential for the...
The Role of Forensic Anthropologists at the Fatal Fire Recovery
A Retrospective Study of Cases from 1983–2020
Abstract
A retrospective review of 1,760 forensic cases processed by Mercyhurst University personnel between 1983 and 2020
was performed for...
On WEIRD Anthropologists and Their White Skeletons
AbstractMost forensic anthropologists and the populations they study are WEIRD—that is, Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic. In...
Testing the Homogeneity of “White”
Dental Morphology in Americans and Australians of European Descent
Abstract
The purpose of estimating each part of the biological profile is to reduce the number of missing persons for comparison with unknown human...
What Are We Really Estimating in Forensic Anthropological Practice, Population Affinity or Ancestry?
AbstractWhile American forensic anthropologists often state that they estimate ancestry, is that what they are really estimating? Although typological...
Childhood and Adulthood Residency Prediction Using Strontium (87Sr/86Sr) and Oxygen (δ18O) Isotopes for Unidentified Deceased Migrants Recovered in Southern Texas
AbstractStrontium and oxygen isotope values are used in conjunction with a maximum likelihood assignment model to predict the childhood and adulthood...
Self-Reported Ancestry and Craniofacial SNPs
Assessing Correspondence with Implications for Forensic Case Analysis and Reporting
Abstract
Genotype-phenotype studies increasingly link single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) to the dimensions of the face for presumed homogeneous...
Diversity and Inclusion in Forensic Anthropology
Where We Stand and Prospects for the Future
Abstract
Diversity and inclusion have proven vital for increasing innovation, success, and performance in a myriad of fields; however, as with many other...
Ancestry Estimation in Practice
An Evaluation of Forensic Anthropology Reports in the United States
Abstract
The medicolegal system relies on forensic anthropologists to construct accurate biological profiles from skeletal remains
to narrow the pool...
Changing the Mentorship Paradigm
Survey Data and Interpretations from Forensic Anthropology Practitioners
Abstract
Mentorship can be defined as the person-to-person transmission of knowledge in a domain where one person has more experience than the other....
Centering Transgender Individuals in Forensic Anthropology and Expanding Binary Sex Estimation in Casework and Research
AbstractDue to disproportionate violence impacting the transgender community, forensic anthropologists may encounter the remains of trans individuals;...
Assumed Differences; Unquestioned Typologies
The Oversimplification of Race and Ancestry in Forensic Anthropology
Abstract
Forensic anthropologists traditionally estimate “race” or “ancestry” as part of the biological profile. While practitioners may have changed the...
Analysis and Identification of Damages Caused by Canine (Canis lupus familiaris) Manipulation of Woven Textiles as Cultural Evidence in Forensic Cases
AbstractScavenging of human remains by dogs can make the process of identification and analysis of perimortem trauma difficult. Numerous scientific...
Terminology Used to Describe Human Variation in Forensic Anthropology
AbstractTo understand the implications of the forensic anthropological practice of “ancestry” estimation, we explore terminology that has been employed...
Explanation of Ancestry Estimation in Forensic Anthropology Textbooks
Lessons for the Undergraduate Classroom
Abstract
The way we teach about race and racism can have profound impacts on undergraduate learners, both positive and negative. Textbooks represent a...
Case Reports
A Forensic Anthropological Study of Human Remains Attributed to the Apostle James Alphaeus
AbstractWe present the forensic anthropological study of the relic of the skull of James Alphaeus, which was preserved in the Chapel of the Relics of...
Technical Notes
Steam Kettle Skeletal Preparation
An Efficient Method for Processing Human Remains
Abstract
This paper presents methods for the disarticulation and steam kettle maceration of embalmed and non-embalmed decedents for forensic casework and...
“Why Are There So Many Women in Forensic Anthropology?”
An Evaluation of Gendered Experiences in Forensic Anthropology
Abstract
There is broad discussion of the higher numbers of women in the forensic sciences, particularly when compared to other science, technology,...
The Morphology of Intersectionality
Discordance between Ancestry Estimates and Social Identifiers
Abstract
Forensic anthropologists operate within a medico-legal context, performing analyses to estimate a biological profile (ancestry, age, sex,...
Review Articles
Ancestral Diversity in Skeletal Collections
Perspectives on African American Body Donation
Abstract
African Americans comprise approximately 13% of the U.S. population, 6% of missing persons, and 51% of homicide victims (Kochanek et al....
Case Report
Fractography of Bone Using Reconstructed Computed Tomography (CT) Scans
A Case Report Series
Abstract
Fractography has been shown to be applicable to forensic assessments of skeletal trauma by observing the presence and orientation of fracture...