Forensic Anthropology

Precocious Natural Mummification in Hanging

Deren Çeker — 2024-01-30

Mummification is regarded as a particular form of decomposition. External factors such as sun, wind, humidity, and temperature are known to accelerate or slow down the mummification period. The process can take weeks or months to complete. Consequently, the diversity of external factors makes postmortem interval (PMI) estimations difficult. This case study reports on the first example of precocious natural mummification in Northern Cyprus and involves a 20-year-old male found hanging from the railing in the stairwell
of an unfinished building. The individual had been missing only seven days. The body underwent complete computed tomography scanning, autopsy, and toxicology analysis. A fractured hyoid with associated ecchymosis is documented, indicating death by asphyxiation. The crime scene environmental factors and seven-day weather report during which the individual was missing were assessed to understand the factors that influenced this rapid mummification. Reporting on this case contributes to PMI studies in studies in Cyprus and other locations with similar environmental factors.

A Case of Complete Hyoid Body Agenesis and the Benefits of Anthropology Consultation When Assessing Structures of the Neck

Justin Z. Goldstein — 2023-11-29

This case study details a rare finding of hyoid body agenesis. Anthropological consultation on structures of the neck is
frequently utilized at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner. This practice allows for anthropology findings to supplement and support the autopsy reports produced by the medical examiners, often detailing the presence of trauma and/or anatomical variants. In this case, while no trauma to the neck was suspected, anthropological consultation revealed a unique hyoid morphology that has not yet been documented in the forensic literature. Moreover, this morphology seems to support a single developmental origin for the hyoid body, which has been theorized in recent embryological research. Analysis of this hyoid body agenesis may contribute meaningful data to discussions regarding hyoid bone developmental origins and provide a useful example for other forensic cases involving similar morphology. This case exemplifies the benefit of pathological and anthropological collaboration in distinguishing between trauma, pathology, and anatomical variants when assessing structures of the neck.

A Comparison of Scales for Recording and Evaluating Dental Arcade Shape

Christopher Maier — 2023-09-06

Recording scales to evaluate the shape of the dental arcade have been proposed; however, no comparison has been made among different scales to assess which is best. Here, a comparison is made among several scales (Gill 1971, 1995; Gill & Rhine 1986; Hefner & Linde 2018; Hooton, The Harvard Blanks n.d.; Maier 2017; Maier et al. 2015), and they were evaluated on (1) low observer error and (2) strong association with groups. Digital photographs of 659 individuals from collections across the United States were assessed for dental arcade shape. These data were generated by three observers to test for replicability. Additionally, the relationship between scale and sample groups was evaluated using a combination of chi-squares and several measures of effect size (Cramér’s V, Sakoda’s C, Goodman–Kruskal lambda). Values for Fleiss’s kappa range from “fair” to “almost perfect” between intra-and interobserver measures (κ = 0.212–0.851). Nearly all scales exhibit significant associations with the sample groups, though the general trend is toward weak effect sizes. All values for Cramér’s V and Sakoda’s C fall below 0.3, and the lambda statistic does not exceed an average reduction of error of 6%. The Gill scale is the most reliably recorded but is tied to typological approaches to human variation. A five-point scale proposed by Maier (2017) is less replicable but has the largest effect sizes—“moderate” compared to “weak.” Recording the angle of the sides of the dental arcade may be as informative as several of these scales and avoids many typological associations.

Age-Related Changes to Frontal Sinus Traits and Implications for Forensic Identification

Naeema Abdulrazak — 2023-11-16

Forensic studies on frontal sinus identification are often limited to adult samples or utilize static, simulated antemortem images, which overlook any potential temporal changes in sinus morphology. Further, studies on frontal sinus growth typically utilize lateral radiographs and/or are cross-sectional. The current study utilizes a longitudinal sample of frontal radiographs to determine the age at which forensically relevant frontal sinus traits stabilize during growth and development. The sample includes 1500 radiographs of 141 individuals (66F/75M) ranging from three to 56 years of age (yoa). For each individual, trait age-of-stabilization was recorded by identifying the year at which each coded trait became consistent across images.
Our results demonstrate that frontal sinus traits stabilize on average 10–15yoa, with sinus presence being the first to stabilize and arcade counts the last. Females generally stabilized earlier (9–14yoa) versus males (10–15yoa). However, sex differences were generally
not statistically significant. Further, traits displayed a high degree of variation with wide standard deviations (~3 years). However, by 21yoa almost all individuals displayed stabilization in all traits, suggesting that little change should be expected with later-aged postmortem radiographs. Still, given the amount of variation, forensic practitioners should be cautious using frontal sinus identification methods in subadults, especially when years may have elapsed between images. When conducting a radiographic comparison that involves a subadult antemortem image, the results of this study may help the practitioner interpret whether the differences between antemortem and postmortem radiographs can be explained by age and time elapsed between radiographs.

Dental Anthropology and Its Role in Forensic Anthropology

Marin A. Pilloud — 2024-03-12

Dental anthropology is a subdiscipline of biological anthropology that is concerned with the nonclinical study of teeth. As such, the discipline is distinct from that of forensic odontology, yet still of relevance within forensic anthropology and a medicolegal context. This review of dental anthropology differentiates it as a distinct field of study and highlights its role within medicolegal death investigations, particularly the role of the dentition in estimating parameters of the biological profile. The development and history of dental anthropology in relation to forensic anthropology are outlined. The differentiation of the roles of the dental/forensic anthropologist
and the forensic odontologist is discussed. The potential role of the dentition in estimating parameters of the biological profile is discussed, as are the relevant biological processes. Finally, the need for advanced training in dental anthropology is emphasized, as is the potential for future research within this emerging field of study.

Morphological Observation of the Alar Region between the Piriform Aperture and the Alar Soft Tissue for Facial Approximation (Reconstruction)

Hajime Utsuno — 2023-11-28

Prediction methods for regions not lined by facial bones are important elements of forensic anthropology, including forensic facial approximation. The alar region can be predicted by measuring the distances from the piriform margin and multiples of the piriform width. However, studies investigating this region are limited, and some only focus on one side of the alar region. Hence, we aimed to
measure the bony points/landmarks to predict the alar region.
Post-mortem computed tomography images of the samples from 180 Japanese individuals were obtained and analyzed. The images
were processed using Osirix (Pixmeo). The coordinates recorded from all samples were calculated, and the values obtained were stratified by sex, laterality, age, body mass index, and cephalic index. The distances between the alar and the five piriform points were measured. The mean, standard deviation, and confidence interval of all samples were calculated, and the sex-related differences were determined. We evaluated the correlation between alares and other boney landmarks and points. Our findings were compared with those of previous studies. We observed significant sex differences (p < 0.01) and asymmetry (p < 0.01) in laterality in this region; hence, asymmetry was assessed based on these results. Compared with the results of previous studies, the obtained measurements were larger than those of a previous Asian study, suggesting that laterality may influence the accuracy of prediction methods for regions not lined by hard tissues.

Photogrammetric Point-Cloud Replicability When Documenting Forensic Archaeological Scenes under Variable Lighting Conditions

Morgan J. Ferrell — 2024-01-20

Forensic archaeological scenes involving human skeletal remains in wooded environments can be challenging to documentutilizing close-range photogrammetry (CRP) due to the complex nature of outdoor scenes. Previous research has demonstrated that changinglighting conditions can negatively affect three-dimensional (3D) model quality. The purpose of this research was therefore to test theimpact of variable lighting on the replicability of 3D point clouds using CRP in a wooded environment. One scattered scene was createdusing a composite human skeleton and several clothing items. The scene was photographed three times during one day to capture changinglighting conditions: at 9:45 am (Model 1), at noon (Model 2), and at 2 pm (Model 3). Photographs were collected freehand from multipleview angles using a Sony α7 III camera with a fixed wide-anglelens, and the models were processed using Agisoft Metashape Professional.All three models achieved a total scale bar error of less than 1 mm and therefore met the accepted standards for crime scene mappingbest practices. The dense point clouds were then analyzed using CloudCompare to assess point-cloud replicability between modelpairs. The Multiscale Model to Model Cloud Comparison (M3C2) tool was used to calculate signed distances between point-cloud pairs.Also, histograms that display these point-to-pointdeviations were generated for each comparison, and a Gaussian distribution was fittedto each histogram. Deviations between point clouds were minimal, indicating that CRP-generated point clouds are replicable under changinglighting conditions, as well as other environmental variables, such as mild wind conditions and complex ground surfaces. Thus, it isrecommended that forensic archaeologists incorporate CRP into their documentation protocol.

Review of: Mildred Trotter and the Invisible Histories of Physical and Forensic Anthropology

Jade S. De La Paz — 2023-11-06

A Review of Mildred Trotter and the Invisible Histories of Physical and Forensic Anthropology, Emily K. Wilson, ISBN 9781032180892, CRC Press, 2022.

Review of: Mineralogical Analysis Applied to Forensics

Daniel Johnson — 2024-05-01

Review of: Mineralogical Analysis Applied to Forensics: A Guidance on Mineralogical Techniques and Their Application to the Forensic Field, edited by Mariano Mercurio, Alessio Langella, Rosa Maria Di Maggio, and Piergiulio Cappelletti

REFERENCE: Mariano Mercurio, Alessio Langella, Rosa Maria Di Maggio, and Piergiulio Cappelletti. Mineralogical Analysis Applied to Forensics: A Guidance on Mineralogical Techniques and Their Application to the Forensic Field. Springer Nature, 2022; 311 pp.