Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Category
Professional Experiences
Abstract/Artist Statement
Human identification through forensic skeletal analysis: three case reviews
Article Co-authors: Joe Adserias-Garriga*, Shelby Feirstein, Dakota Bell, Hannah Skropits and Dennis C. Dirkmaat (https://doi.org/10.1093/fsr/owae053)
Establishing a positive identification of human remains found in a forensic setting is often accomplished through DNA, fingerprints, or odontology. However, when these primary identifiers cannot be applied, practitioners can rely on combining points of concordance derived from other identification modalities, such as antemortem trauma, pathology, or unique skeletal morphologies, to build up a case for identification. In order to conduct these comparisons, forensic anthropologists must be well trained and experienced in human skeletal variation and antemortem trauma to properly evaluate a particular skeletal trait and understand its value with respect to personal identification. In addition to macroscopic analysis of skeletal features and standard radiographic images, recent forensic anthropological efforts of establishing personal identity from the skeleton have employed high-quality clinical imaging technologies.
This oral presentation will discuss our co-authored article, which presents three forensic anthropological cases in which positive identification was established on the basis of multiple antemortem to postmortem comparison modalities that included skeletal variation, antemortem fracture morphologies, trabecular patterns, dental traits, and implanted surgical devices. These cases use a variety of imaging techniques, such as cranial radiographic images, dental radiographs, computed tomography, photography, and 3D surface scans of the skeletal remains, to achieve personal identification.
NOTE: Co-authors are outside of U of M, but approval for presentation as second author has been received.
Mentor Name
Meradeth Snow
Human identification through forensic skeletal analysis: three case reviews
UC 326
Human identification through forensic skeletal analysis: three case reviews
Article Co-authors: Joe Adserias-Garriga*, Shelby Feirstein, Dakota Bell, Hannah Skropits and Dennis C. Dirkmaat (https://doi.org/10.1093/fsr/owae053)
Establishing a positive identification of human remains found in a forensic setting is often accomplished through DNA, fingerprints, or odontology. However, when these primary identifiers cannot be applied, practitioners can rely on combining points of concordance derived from other identification modalities, such as antemortem trauma, pathology, or unique skeletal morphologies, to build up a case for identification. In order to conduct these comparisons, forensic anthropologists must be well trained and experienced in human skeletal variation and antemortem trauma to properly evaluate a particular skeletal trait and understand its value with respect to personal identification. In addition to macroscopic analysis of skeletal features and standard radiographic images, recent forensic anthropological efforts of establishing personal identity from the skeleton have employed high-quality clinical imaging technologies.
This oral presentation will discuss our co-authored article, which presents three forensic anthropological cases in which positive identification was established on the basis of multiple antemortem to postmortem comparison modalities that included skeletal variation, antemortem fracture morphologies, trabecular patterns, dental traits, and implanted surgical devices. These cases use a variety of imaging techniques, such as cranial radiographic images, dental radiographs, computed tomography, photography, and 3D surface scans of the skeletal remains, to achieve personal identification.
NOTE: Co-authors are outside of U of M, but approval for presentation as second author has been received.