Anthropology Midterm Review Sheet Answers PDF

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Anthropology Midterm Review Sheet Answers 1. Scope of forensic anthropology How are we used? What types of analyses do we perform? *Forensic Anthropology deals with the identification of more or less skeletal remains known or suspected to be human Determines: Sex, age, race, stature (nature height) Laboratory based analysis (forensic osteology) -Basic biological analysis (sex, age, ancestry) -Antemortem (before death) injury/pathologies (personal ID) Roles of the Forensic Anthropologist -Scene recovery -Human vs. Nonhuman -Forensic significance -Biological profile (sex, race, age, stature) -Trauma analysis -Taphonomy/time since death -Positive identification 2. Human/Non-human Why some anatomical terminology is different between humans and nonhuman mammals? Anatomical directions and planes are used in reference to bones, body parts, their portions and their relative positions Anatomical position= humans- standing, facing with the feet pointing forward, palms facing forward and thumbs pointed laterally. *Some terms different for animals Reason for this= Humans are bipeds (stand on 2 feet) Most animals are quadrupeds (stand of 4 feet) -Their body parts are in different positions relative to each other How does the study of taxonomy help in the analysis of remains? In many cases, investigators are primarily interested in whether the remains in question are human, but a more specific identification such as to class, family, genus, or species provides a degree of certainty.

3. Field Investigation a) Process to Search for human remains: 1. Preliminary Investigation 2. Planning 3. Search Operation 4. Mapping and Recovery 1. Preliminary InvestigationConsolidate Information -Police -Crime -Scene Investigators -Search requirements -Where to search and why -How to search Reconnaissance -Do not fully enter the scene -Provide overview -what to expect -terrain -vegetation -size of search area -potential hazards -Establish type of search possible 2. Planning: Strategy and Resources -Remote sensing -Aerial photography -Thermal imaging -Geophysical methods -Ground penetrating radar -Metal detector -Ground search -Available expertise -Available personnel and equipment -Time available for search 3. Search Operation: Securing the Scene -Outer perimeter -Keep out onlookers and media -No nonessential people -sign in and out/time and purpose -Command post

-Inner perimeter (search perimeter) -All the area to be searched -Restrict access to scene investigators -May add 3rd perimeter -Burial/site perimeter around body -Essential recovery personnel GROUND SEARCH -For many scenes, the most effective way to conduct a ground search is using a shoulder-to-shoulder pedestrian line search with overlapping fields of vision -This is a methodical approach (as opposed to random walkovers) to maximize evidence recovery -Rapid coverage and accurate Search Patterns -Line search -Interlocking line -Grid -Zone -Spiral -Cadaver dogs may be employed to search for remains -The probe is used to evaluate potential burials as soil will be less compact in recently disturbed areas -The soil auger can also be used to evaluate burials as soil will appear mottled in disturbed areas When evidence is found -stop search line -maintain positions -notify expert -flag evidence -resume search at director’s order -leave evidence in position -photos and mapping -remember to look up Geophysical Search Methods -Remote Sensing Equipment -Ground penetrating radar -Cesium magnetometer -Maps subsurface anomalies (ex: disturbances) 4. Recovery -Principles drawn from archaeological methods and techniques -At the basic level, the goals are the same: to properly document the scene for reconstruction purposes

Surface Scatters: First line is to determine there is a scene. Once a concentration is found the area should be restricted to essential personnel. -2nd Line search -Remove leaf litter -Thorough visual search -Systematic approach -Mark remains and evidence (pin flags) -Inventory remains -Remove evidence -Trowel soil underneath -sift soil Buried Remains: Information obtained from clandestine graves: -grave floor—foot, knee, or handprints -location, size and depth of hole -time of year—severed roots, disrupted vegetation -evidence of digging tools- metallic fragments, rust strains, imprint Locating the grave outline: -Remove leaf-litter -cut surface vegetation -check for hair/fibers -Screen/sort material No demarcation of grave: -excavate by units -designed increments

MAPPING -Compass and tape measures -for small scenes with limited amount of evidence, it may be more expedient -Total station -allows for accurate mapping of larger scenes -more precision -Determine an area that will encompass the scene but not be too large to accurately map. -For localized scene that will be hand-mapped there are two options: baseline or grid -When hand mapping a large scene use: triangulation -Chose a datum: a datum is an arbitrary reference point and should be semipermanent so you can return to it if necessary.

-The mapping technique will also establish the recovery technique. MORE ON POWERPOINT b. Search indicators for location remains or clandestine burials -Vegetation -Recent graves may show fewer/smaller plants or an absence of vegetation -Older graves may show larger and different species -Soil Topography: -Recent burials will show a mound of dirt -Older graves may show a depression Compaction: -Disturbed soil will generally be looser Color: -Backfill within the burial will generally be a different color than undisturbed soil -Stratigraphy -Backfill within burial pit will be a mixture of distinct soil layers -Generally fill within burial pit will be a different color and less compact c. Process to remove evidence at a crime scene Recovery: Proper techniques -Greater accuracy in evidence collection -Recovery of the maximum among of skeletal remains and associated evidence -Document relationships between objects -Prevention of postmortem damage to remains Recovery: Collecting Physical Evidence -No set order -Most fragile first, most destructive last -Documented and collected 1 at a time -Prevent mixing exhibits, improper labels, cross-contamination -Nature of exhibit?—What is it? -Who found it? Date, time, location -Exhibit number -Who seized it? Date, time, location, initials -Manly types of containers

d. General process to excavate a burial Recovery: Clandestine Graves Excavation:

-Work from center toward edges -Uncover tool marks -Stratigraphic profile -Once remains located, take soil and botanic samples from scene -Inventory remains -sift soil associated with evidence -scrape down grave floor Importance of field investigation in outdoor context -Be sure all evidence has been collected -Search team organized -Right personnel is there Jurisdiction for the MEO/CO vs. law enforcement. Medical Examiner never has jurisdiction of the crime scene—only the body. Law enforcement has jurisdiction over the crime scene—they control the scene. Law enforcement should not move the body or collect evidence from the body since they do not have jurisdiction 4) Forensic/medicolegal Significance: a. What is it? It is sometimes necessary for a forensic anthropologist to first determine whether remains or items in question actually fit the criteria of being recent human skeletal material. This is typically referred to as determining the medicolegal significance, or whether the material is of interest to the medicolegal death investigation system. -Role to play in police investigation -Saves time and effort if one can make this determination quickly Things typically not of Medicolegal Significance: -Religious artifacts -anatomical specimens -archaeological remains -cemetery remains -trophy skulls -commercially cremated remains -Secret Societies -remains used during ceremonies -Obtained in biological supply stores, medical facilities -Usually professionally processed bones -altered for effect/amusement/rituals

-Religious Relics -Religious significance -Tribal Art -Examples: -Tibetan skullcap bowls, drums, tambourines -Femur flutes -Need permission to export -Smuggling of these items occurs and they may be of forensic significance, but not of medicolegal significance. -Palo Mayombe -Religion that is practiced in parts of NYC -Often involves human remains -Usually anatomical specimens or stolen from cemeteries -Not of medicolegal significance. -Anatomical/Medical specimens -Characteristics -Bleached -Varnished -Articulated with hardware to hold pieces together -Odd sectioning (cutting) of bone to show some internal structure -Surfaces are polished due to years of handling -Archaeological/Historical Remains -Source of evidence -Context (burial context or artifacts found with remains) -Remains (taphonomy, appearance, biological profile) These features may help determine if the remains are historic or ancient -It is forensically significant when vandalism, looting, etc. occurs -Not of medicolegal signifance -Context -Archeological burial practices -Regional/cultural specific -Bundle burials, ossuaries -The anthropologist must recognize archaeological burials quickly, with minimal disturbance -Treatment of remains may help make this determination Ex: anointing (rubbing) with ochre -Culturally significant items placed with remains -Lithics, pottery and textiles will be clues -Cemetery Remains -Not of Medicolegal Significance

-water erosion may cause exposure of remains -old burials may be displaced during exhumation -Forensically significant when vandalism, body snatching, theft of remains or burial goods -Context and Characteristics -proximity to a cemetery -disturbed grave in the area remains were found -embalming and funeral practices are easy to recognize. -Taphonomy of coffin burials -The coffin can cause wear on the remains and staining if it is a wooden coffin

-Artifacts -Coffin hardware -Handles, hinges, nails, screws, ornamental trim -Grave goods -rings, personal items, artifacts to show hierarchy in the culture -Trophy Skulls -sometimes collected by soldiers during war -any part of world -Eastern Europe, Germany, Vietnam, Korea -donated or turned into authorities years/decades later by war vets or descendants of vets -Often difficult to verify origin or story of how it was acquired. -Commercially Cremated Remains -Sometimes found in unexpected or public locations -ex: a nice tree-overlooking park -Could be criminal, so must determine if the remains are commercially cremated and if they are of medicolegal signifance. -Commercial Cremains -uniformly white-gray in color -crushed, very small fragments -high temp, long time -crematorium retort temperature: 900 degrees C -campfire temperature: 300-500 degrees

How is it determined? In order to be considered of medicolegal signifance to a forensic anthropologist, three questions must be answered:

1) is the material skeletal (bone or tooth) versus some other material? 2) Is the skeletal material human versus non-human in origin? 3) Is the human skeletal material contemporary (recent) versus noncontemporary (historic or prehistoric)? Are all human remains significant and if not why? Not all human remains are of medicolegal significance because they could be -Religious artifacts -anatomical specimens -archaeological remains -cemetery remains -trophy skulls -commercially cremated remains all of which are typically not of medicolegal signifance How does Taphonomy apply to making this determination (how is it used)? When suspected skeletal material is complete and in good condition, the determination of whether it is bone or tooth versus some other material is often straight ward. Sometimes, however, this determination can be made difficult due to fragmentation or taphonomic processes that may destroy or obscure many of the gross morphological features that normally make bones and teeth readily recognizable. These processes may be deliberate, as in cases where perpetrators of a crime try to eliminate evidence by physical, chemical, or thermal destruction. Natural taphonomic processes may also be responsible, including weathering, sun bleaching, animal scavenging, soil and water chemistry (diagenesis), and root etching. How does one establish the forensic context for medicolegal cases? The recognition of the medicolegal significance of material to a forensic anthropologist includes determining : *whether the material is skeletal versus some other material, whether skeletal material is human or non-human, and whether human skeletal material is contemporary or non-contemporary (from the last 50 years or not). 6) Taphonomy a. What is it in relation to forensic anthropology? -Postmortem (PM) changes to bone -Used to answer what happened to body between the time of death and the time of discovery -Includes, and often is confused with, postmortem interval (PMI) -PMI attempts to answer the question, how long has the body been there?

Why study taphonomy? -To explain such things as the position, color, weathering, or erosion of remains. -Help to determine the consistency in: -where and how body is found -tip or testimony provided by an individual (ex: determine what was done to body (such as dismemberment) and see if it is consistent with informant story. -Explain or determine the movement of body after death Was it due to animal, human, gravity, water, or another factor? -Determine elapsed time since death -Provide more contextual evidence Were the remains altered, added to, or removed? b. What are some taphonomic indicators we look for on remains? -weathering damage- from wind, rain, sun -sun bleaching, bone warping, checking or cracking -color: fresh bone is yellow (greasy), white from sunlight, green (copper) or orange (iron) from being stained from contact with metal -animal scavenging- splintering -rodent activity- parallel chisel-like marks c. How does taphonomy assist with determining time since death? fresh bone is yellow (greasy) Old bone can have weathering damage- from wind, rain, sun -sun bleaching, bone warping, checking or cracking d. What are some characteristics of scavenging on bone? -animal activity -gnawing, digging, clawing, trampling -carnivore damage -punctures in bone, channeling of bone, marrow coning (removal of marrow) -they chew condyles (ends of bone), hands and feet -scalloped edges on bones due to chewing is a good indication -Canid (Dog) scavenging -soft tissue removed—face and throat -chest destroyed (sternum/ribs) -evisceration, removal 1 or both supper limb(s), including scapula and clavicles -separation and remove of lower limbs -only segments of vertebrae articulated -total disarticulation and scattering may occur -only cranium and assorted fragments remain -Rodent Activity -rodents like to gnaw on sharp edges of a bone eye orbits, broken edges -they make parallel chisel-like marks

-this damage may camouflage wounds (trauma) -They also with make nests in bodies 7) History Provide one person or event that marks one of the eras. Formative Period (1800s to 1938) The Leutgert Murder (1897) Adolph Luetgert was accused of killing his wife Louisa. He was accused of dissolving her body in a vat of potash in his sausage factory George A. Dorsey was the anthropologist who testified that the small bones that were recovered where human and female. Fragments of hand, foot and rib were recovered.

Review some of the important figures in the development of forensic anthropology. Formative Period (1800s to 1938) -Thomas Dwight -First to apply knowledge of the human skeleton to forensic situations (age, sex, stature) -Known as the “father of forensic anthropology in the united states” -Alex Hrdlicka -Trained as an anatomist -First curator of Physical Anthropology at the Smithsonian -Founder of the American Journal of Physical Anthropology 1917 -Studied human evolution, human osteology -Earnest Hooton -Physical anthropologist -Harvard -Studied primate evolution and criminology -Racial classification -Comparative Osteological Collections T. Wingate Todd -Cleveland Ohio -Hamann-Todd collection Robert. J. Terry -Washington Univ, SL -Terry Collection (Smithsonian)

Consolidation Period: (1938-1971) -Wilton Marion Krogman -Guide to the Identification of Human Skeletal Material (1939: for the FBI) -Formation of CILHI (now JPAC CIL) during WWII -Identification of killed service men -Charles Snow 1st director -Mildred Trotter -Anatomist -Stature -Second Director of CILHI -Thomas McKern and T. Dale Stewart -Skeletal Age changes in Young American Males -Stewart -Smithsonian -Essentials of Forensic Anthropology Modern Period: 1972-present -Ellis Kerley and Clyde Snow -1972, established the Physical Anthropology section developed in the American Academcy of Forensic Sciences -1977, the American Board of Forensic Anthroology established by 9 initial members -DABFA cerifications -1978- 22 diplomates -2011- 88 dipolmates -Bill Bass, UT -Bill Maples, UF Examining Skeletal Remains: What types of analyses/services are provided? Age- epiphyseal fusion, dental development, Sex Determination- pelvis, cranium Race - ancestry determination Stature estimation Trauma Time since death Personal identification Frontal sinus identification...