Forensic Anthropology Research Paper PDF

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Research paper on forensic anthropology....

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Running Head: Forensic Archaeology

Forensic Archaeology

Forensic Archaeology Anthropology is defined as “the scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural developments of humans.” Forensic anthropologists are trained physical anthropologists who apply their knowledge to the legal process. (PBS) Most commonly, forensic anthropologists are called upon to determine identities, interpret trauma, and estimate time since death. (“What Is Forensic Anthropology?” ) Forensic anthropologists work in both historical and legal fields. At the Natural Museum of Natural History, forensic anthropologists have studied and identified the age, sex, ancestry, and cause of death of most of the 30,000 sets of human remains. (“What Do Forensic Anthropologists”) Their work in the historical field is especially important to us as they tell us the stories of our past and how our ancestors lived and died. However, the knowledge that they bring to the legal field is unmatched. When called to a crime scene, a forensic anthropologist will “locate the rest of the skeleton, document the scene, determine how the body got there, collect biological evidence, and excavate remains and store properly for transport.” (Szilágyi) Once the forensic anthropologist is finished at the crime scene and they get custody of the remains, they work to figure out the postmortem interval, or the amount of time passed between death and discovery. They then focus on establishing a biological profile, which consists of the age, sex, ancestry, stature, and personal features (any work they may have gotten done, injuries they may have suffered). Forensic anthropologists can also aid the medical examiner or coroner in determining the cause of death based on information they can gather from damage to bones. (Stanojevich)

Forensic Archaeology An especially important role forensic anthropologists play legally is serving as an expert witness. With their extensive knowledge of human remains, their word can be trusted in a court of law.

There are three main subsections to forensic anthropology, “forensic osteology (the study of the skeleton), forensic archaeology (involves the controlled collection of human remains), and forensic taphonomy (involves the study of changes to the body after death, including decomposition and environmental modification).” (“Forensic Anthropologist”) Forensic osteology deals strictly with bones, and will most often be found “at disaster sites such as 9/11’s Ground Zero as beside 1,000-year-old Peruvian graves.” (Pozniak) Much of what they do deals with identifying the victims at these disaster sites, most notably those who were put into mass graves during genocides such as the holocaust. Using the extensive knowledge they have on skeletal remains, they can not only identify age, sex, and stature but what kind of life they may have led and how they may have died. Once identified, the remains can be returned to the families of the victims. (Pozniak) Some problems forensic osteologists may run into include commingling, or the mixing of skeletal remains. This makes it more difficult for them to estimate the number of bodies that may be in the mass grave they are excavating. “The forensic archaeologist combines knowledge of osteology and human remains with archaeological techniques to help recover finds and provide vital evidence for the investigative team.” (“Forensic Archaeology”) The work they do involves reconstructing crime scenes, working on gravesites to possibly determine what may have happened before a victim’s burial,

Forensic Archaeology and identify whether or not objects found are related to a crime scene or victim. They also help with crime scenes where the body was disposed of on the surface, and just covered with dirt, branches, etc. In these cases, the forensic archaeologists will work closely with forensic botanists (plants), and forensic entomologists (bugs). And just like osteologists, they work on mass grave sites to help identify victims and war crimes. (“Forensic Archaeology”) “Forensic taphonomy is the study of the postmortem changes to human remains, focusing largely on environmental effects—including decomposition in soil and water and interaction with plants, insects, and other animals.” (“Manual of Forensic Taphonomy” 2013) Within forensic taphonomy, there are two different subsections, biotaphonomy, and geotaphonomy. “Biotaphonomy analyzes the biological remains in order to see how they have been affected and by what processes. It has to find out how decomposition, destruction, or the lack of these two came to be.” (“Forensic Taphonomy” 2011) They look at three different factors that may have an effect on decomposition - individual factors (the body itself), environmental factors, and cultural factors. (“Forensic Taphonomy” 2011) “Geotaphonomy analyzes how the buried body affects the surrounding environment, in shallow geological and botanical terms.” Within geotaphonomy, they’ll look for differences in the pH of the soil, for footprints, or for tool marks at or around crime scenes. (“Forensic Taphonomy” 2011) It’s clear that forensic anthropologists have no easy job, as there are so many subcategories within the field and it’s no wonder you have to get a Ph.D. to be one. They provide vital expert testimony and can be key in solving both current and cold murder cases. Not only do they aid us within the criminal justice system, but they also are able to read the history of our ancestors.

Forensic Archaeology References Admin, & Admin. (2011, December 8). itsGOV.com. Retrieved from http://itsgov.com/forensic-taphonomy.html. Forensic Anthropologist Job Description. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.crimesceneinvestigatoredu.org/forensic-anthropologist/. Forensic Anthropology. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/teaching-resources/social-studies/forensic-anthropology. Forensic Anthropology | History Detectives. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/technique/forensic-anthropology/. Manual of Forensic Taphonomy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.crcpress.com/Manual-of-Forensic-Taphonomy/Pokines-Symes/p/book/9781439878 415. Pozniak, H. (2012, September 10). Forensic osteology: Could you unearth a body of evidence? Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/student/postgraduate/postgraduate-study/forensic-osteology-coul d-you-unearth-a-body-of-evidence-7961642.html. Lesson 1: Introduction and History - Forensic Anthropology. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/holforensicanthro/home/lesson-1-introduction-and-history. Stanojevich, V. (2012, June 18). The Role of a Forensic Anthropologist in a Death Investigation. Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.org/the-role-of-a-forensic-anthropologist-in-a-death-investigation-2157 -7145.1000154.php?aid=7276#4.

Forensic Archaeology What is Forensic Anthropology? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://fac.utk.edu/what-is-forensic-anthropology-2/. Www.amescomputer.com. (n.d.). Forensic Archaeology: Burial Removals: Cemetery Crime: Excavation: Chicora Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.chicora.org/forensic-archaeology.html. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.fss.org.uk/forensic-archaeology.html....