Establishing forensic context

Question 1

What are the 3 question to ask when establishing forensic context?

Answer 1

1. is it actually bone?
2. are the bones human
3. are the bones ancient or modern?

Question 2

What is contemporary vs. non contemporary?

Answer 2

• contemporary: within 50 years
• non contemporary: older than 50 years

Question 3

What other materials look like bone?

Answer 3

• wood, rocks and minerals when fragmented and dirty
• antlers: made from same material but not muscular or skeletal

Question 4

What is alecrenon process?

Answer 4

protects elbow from dislocating in 4 legged animals

Question 5

What bones do animals have that humans don’t?

Answer 5

• baculum: penis bone
• caudal vertebra (tails) > humans have coxidial vertebra (tail bone)

Question 6

What bones do humans have that animals don’t?

Answer 6

• unfused radius and ulna
• unfused tibia and fibula (fibula non weight bearing bone)
• complete fibula
• large separate clavicle to create more stable shoulder joint

Question 7

Give an example of how bone can change properties?

Answer 7

when organic components has been burned away it leaves a calcine structure

Question 8

How does one distinguish coral from calcine bone?

Answer 8

• Dropping into hydrocloric acid and seeing if it bubbles and frosts.
• if it does it’s coral, if it doesn’t it could be bone

Question 9

Name another test for determining if something is bone

Answer 9

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Question 9

Why are human hands mistaken for bear paws?

Answer 9

bear claws are equivalent to distal phalanges in humans

Question 10

How do you distinguish between bear paws and humans hands?

Answer 10

• distal ends of metacarpals in bears have groove at the head
• bear phalanges are larger and more dense than human phalanges
• human phalanges are long and slender
• bear distal phalanges = claws

Question 11

Name differences between carnivore and herbivore teeth

Answer 11

• carnivores: premolars and molars with pointed cusps for tearing meat
• herbivores: broad, flat premolar and molar cusps for chewing tough plants

Question 12

Name differences in bone macrostructure between animals and humans?

Answer 12

• animal bones have greater density relative to size
• animal bones are less porous and thicker in cross section
• human bone is flakier, animal bone smoother

Question 13

What is cross-sectional geometry?

Answer 13

thickness/shape of cortical bone in cross section

Question 14

Name elements of taphonomy to determine if bone is contemporary or non-contemporary?

Answer 14

• texture: contemp bone has smooth surface, noncontemp has rough surface
• weight: contemp will be heavier (still has fats, marrow)
• hydration: contemp bone is wet, greasy; noncontemp is dry

Question 15

How can soft tissue give information about the individual?

Answer 15

• only present in contemporary bone
• temporary body modifications
• permanent body modification
• trephination (surgery)
• surgical implants
• dental modifications

Question 16

What 4 things can help determine if bone is contemp or noncontemp?

Answer 16

• taphonomy
• soft tissue
• context (personal effects)
• conditions of burial/disposal