Introduction
Forensic anthropology is a branch of anthropology that applies its specific scientific methods to criminal and civil law contexts. The scope of the discipline is the extraction of necessary for legal processes data by examining human remains. Forensic anthropologists usually work in a team with other specialists, such as medical examiners and law enforcement agents. The main aim of this applied science is to establish the identity of the dead person, as well as the cause of death and, if possible, it’s accompanying circumstances. Sometimes, the specialists are involved in processes requiring the identification of living persons; their methods are also helpful in examining the issues of historical mass disasters, for example, when working with mass burials.
Forensic anthropology brought the essential changes to crime solution. By examining physical human remains, it provided evidentiary materials of the crimes, previously unattainable. The discipline was institutionalized in 1972 by the founding of the Physical Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and since that time has undergone considerable development. It is defined as an applied branch of biological anthropology (Kottak 2017, 13). The traditional methods of identification have been supplemented by new scientific techniques, which extended the capacities of science. In this paper, several methods used in forensic anthropology, such as facial approximation, DNA sampling, and decomposition research (body farm), will be investigated.
Facial Approximation
Identification of individuals requires the determination of their unique physical characteristics, such as face and body shape. Forensic anthropologists are usually involved in the legal processes where the recognition of the dead person is impossible due to injuries, dismemberment, or post mortal changes, in case of an extended period of time since the death. The facial approximation is the process of the construction of the possible facial image of a person using the configuration of the skull.
It is usually combined with other methods, such as craniofacial photographic superimposition and interpretations of surveillance (Ubelaker 2018, 277). In other words, it aims to reach the public for further identification using other methods such as comparing with photographs and recognition by other persons.
Applying the method of facial approximation often requires the specialist to combine the skills of the anthropologist with the knowledge and talent of the visual artist, or to involve in work two separate specialists. It was first attempted in Europe in the late nineteenth century when teamwork of anatomists and a sculptor resulted in the creation of an approximate facial image using tissue depth measurement (Langley and Tersigni-Tarrant 2017). Another way for the reconstruction of the face is the anatomical method introduced in the 1920s. However, the latter is more time consuming and required specialized anatomic knowledge; thus, at present, for the identification of the deceased forensic anthropologists prefer to rely on the former one.
As Langley and Tersigni-Tarrant (2017) states, the method of facial approximation has its limitations, as there are no credible methods to estimate distinctive features of the human face, such as eye color, ears, and lips, the form of the nose, and the color and length of the hair. However, the techniques of tissue measurement are being developed gradually, increasing the possibilities of the method.
DNA Sampling
During the last few decades, the development of the genetic engineering technologies caused the revolution in the applied techniques of forensic anthropology, in the modern era, DNA sampling was introduced as the way of the identification of the individual. In this field, the discipline utilizes the findings of molecular anthropology, which analyzes genomes and all organism’s DNA. Molecular analysis is able to provide “highly accurate information regarding the sex of the individual represented and provide positive identification (Ubelaker 2018, 75). Since DNA sampling is an expensive, time-consuming, and destructive technique, it is usually applied in cases when there are no other possibilities to identify the individual. However, as it provides factual evidence, this method is highly valuable and in the legal processes can influence the outcome of the case.
Decomposition Research (Body Farm)
The term “body farm” was introduced in 1994 by Patricia Cornwell, a member of the University of Tennessee. The study of the decomposition of the human remains demonstrated that there is a number of factors that influence the process of the decay: temperature, humidity, insect activity, the place of burial, and the presence or absence of clothes. Further, the effect of all these variables on soft tissue decomposition and hard tissue alteration was investigated.
As it was stated, the key factors in this influence are the temperature, and location (ground, surface, water); among the secondary elements are soil conditions, moisture, funerary treatment, and others. This information is necessary to “properly assess time since death (post-mortem interval) and post-mortem events related to criminal activity” (Ubelaker 2018, 276). The field still needs further investigation regarding the impact of various conditions on the process of the alteration of the human remains.
Conclusion
In summary, it must be argued that the use of anthropological methods in forensic science is highly resultative and helpful. Moreover, in light of the discoveries of contemporary science, the applying of new techniques brings new possibilities in this field. In accordance with modern tendencies, forensic anthropology illustrates the requirement for interdisciplinary collaboration and demonstrates its efficiency.
References
Kottak, Conrad. 2017. Window on Humanity: A Concise Introduction to General Anthropology. 8th ed. New-York: McGraw-Hill Education.
Langley, Natalie R., and MariaTeresa A.Tersigni-Tarrant, eds. 2017. Forensic Anthropology: A Comprehensive Introduction. 2nd ed. Boca Raton, Fl.: CRC Press.
Ubelaker, Douglas H. 2018. “Recent Advances in Forensic Anthropology.” Forensic Sciences Research 3 (4): 275–277. Web.