Fundamentals of Forensic Anthropology (eBook)

Linda L. Klepinger (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2006 | 1. Auflage
200 Seiten
John Wiley & Sons (Verlag)
978-0-470-00771-6 (ISBN)

Infos

An essential foundation for the practice of forensic
anthropology

This text is the first of its level written in more than twenty
years. It serves as a summary and guide to the core material that
needs to be mastered and evaluated for the practice of forensic
anthropology.

The text is divided into three parts that collectively provide a
solid base in theory and methodology:

* Part One, "Background Setting for Forensic Anthropology,"
introduces the field and discusses the role of forensic
anthropology in historic context.

* Part Two, "Towards Personal Identification," discusses initial
assessments of skeletal remains; determining sex, age, ancestral
background, and stature; and skeletal markers of activity and life
history.

* Part Three, "Principal Anthropological Roles in Medical-Legal
Investigation," examines trauma; the postmortem period;
professionalism, ethics, and the expert witness; and genetics and
DNA.

The critical and evaluative approach to the primary literature
stresses the inherent biological constraints on degrees of
precision and certainty, and cautions about potential pitfalls. The
practical focus, coupled with theoretical basics, make Fundamentals
of Forensic Anthropology ideal for upper-level undergraduates and
graduate students in biological anthropology as well as forensic
scientists in allied fields of medical-legal investigation.

Autor

Linda L. Klepinger is the author of Fundamentals of Forensic Anthropology, published by Wiley.

Inhalt

Photo Credits ix

Acknowledgments xi

Series Introduction xiii

Part I Background Setting For Forensic Anthropology

1 Introduction 3

Overview of the Field 3

Education and Training 5

Overview of the Book 6

2 The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Historical Context 8

The Somewhat Difficult Birth of a Specialty 8

The Middle Years 11

Approaching Senescence? 15

Part II Towards Personal Identification

3 Initial Assessments of Skeletal Remains 19

Human or Not? 20

Number of Individuals Represented 22

4 Assignment of Sex 25

Criteria for Sex Attribution in the Adult Skeleton 25

Pelvic Traits 26

The Skull 28

Visual Assessment 30

Discriminant Function Analysis 31

The Appendicular Bones 33

Femur 33

Humerus 34

Other Appendicular Elements 35

Miscellaneous Axial Bones 36

Attribution of Sex from the Skeletons of Children 37

Figuring the Error Rate 39

5 Age Estimation 42

The Early Years 43

Dental Age 44

Bone Age 46

Long Bone Length 46

Union of Primary Ossification Centers 48

Epiphyseal Fusion 49

The Adult Years 53

Macroscopic Methods 53

Face of the Pubic Symphysis 53

Sternal Extremity of the Rib 55

The Auricular Surface 56

Cranial Suture Closure 57

Dental Methods 58

Microscopic Methods 60

Other Age Indicators 62

Concluding Remarks on Adult Age Estimation 63

6 Deciphering Ancestral Background 64

The Biological and the Cultural 64

The Biological Context 65

The Cultural Component 65

Skeletal Indicators 66

The Skull 66

The Postcranium 75

7 Stature Estimation 77

How Tall Are You, Really? 77

Estimation of Living Stature from Skeletal Remains 78

The Fully Method 79

Stature Estimation From Long Bone Length 80

Comparison of Methods 82

Reporting Stature Estimates 83

Correcting Stature Estimates for Older Adults 84

Secular Trend 86

Stature Estimates from Fragmentary Long Bones 86

Stature Estimation from Short Bone Length 87

Footwear and Foot Length 87

8 Skeletal Markers of Activity and Life History 89

Childbirth Indicators 90

Handedness 91

Other Activity Markers 92

Partial Medical History 94

Medical Radiology 96

Part III Principal Anthropological Roles In Medical-Legal Investigation

9 Trauma 101

Blunt Force Trauma 102

Cranial Fracture 102

Hyoid Fracture 105

Postcranial Fracture 106

Child Abuse 106

Penetrating and Perforating Trauma 109

Gunshot Wounds 109

Sharp Injuries 114

10 The Postmortem Period 117

Estimation of the Postmortem Interval 117

Postmortem Events 122

Carnivore Scavenging 123

Cremation 124

Has the Body Been Burned? 125

Fracturing 126

Bone Shrinkage 129

Dismemberment 129

Ritual Use of Skeletal Material 130

11 Professionalism, Ethics, and the Expert Witness 132

The Expert Witness 133

Standards and Credentials for Expert Testimony 134

Some Practical Issues 136

Ethics 137

Science in the Courtroom: Two Unfortunate Examples 139

When Good Science is not Presented 139

When Good Science is Ignored 143

12 Genetics and DNA 145

Serology and Mendelian Genetics 146

Forensic DNA Analysis 147,

Legal Considerations 150

References 152

Index 175

Rezensionen

"I enthusiastically recommend Fundamentals of Forensic
Anthropology as reading in upper level forensic anthropology
courses...both strongly theoretical and practical. I also
recommend it to all forensic-science professionals as a helpful
reference to have at hand." (The Applied Anthropologist,
Spring 2008, reviewed by Gabrielle Jones)

"[The author] sets the standard for how textbooks should be
engagingly written with clarity and humor." (reviewed by Jeri
DeYoung, The Applied Anthropologist, Spring 2008)

"...a valuable addition to the forensic science
literature...essential." (CHOICE, June 2007)

"...an important contribution from a well versed and experienced
forensic anthropologist, and will serve as a useful summary of the
state of the science today." (American Journal of Physical
Anthropology, March 2007)

"...the first of its level written in more than twenty
years...an essential foundation for the practice of forensic
anthropology." (SirReadaLot.org, August 2006)

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 28.7.2006
• Reihe/Serie: Advances in Human Biology
• Reihe/Serie: Advances in Human Biology
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Archäologie
• Themenwelt: Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► Vor- und Frühgeschichte
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Humanbiologie
• Themenwelt: Recht / Steuern ► Strafrecht ► Kriminologie
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften ► Ethnologie
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Schlagworte: Anatomie u. Physiologie • Anatomy & Physiology • Anthropologie • Anthropology • Biological Anthropology • Biologische Anthropologie • Biowissenschaften • Criminal Law • Law • Life Sciences • Rechtswissenschaft • Strafrecht
• ISBN-10: 0-470-00771-0 / 0470007710
• ISBN-13: 978-0-470-00771-6 / 9780470007716