FRSC 2007 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Taphonomy, Forensic Anthropology, Biological Anthropology

• School: University of Windsor
• Department: Forensic Science
• Course: FRSC 2007
• Professor: shashijasra

Document Summary

Defined as the application of the theory and methods of anthropology to forensic problems. Most forensic anthropologists have been specialists in physical anthropology, and particularly skeletal biology. Primarily investigate death and injury for criminal or civil legal purposes. Forensic anthropologists knowledge of human skeleton complements forensic pathologists understating of soft tissue. Focus of forensic anthropology has been expanded to include: forensic taphonomy. Interpretation of primarily outdoor death scenes and post-mortem processes: forensic archaeology. Recovery of scattered remains: extrapolation of soft tissue. Based on skeletal form: biomechanical interpretation. Of sharp and blunt force injuries, primarily to bone. Three tasks of forensic anthropology: identifying the victim. Or at least providing a biological profile (age, sex, stature, ancestry, anomalies, pathology, and individual features: reconstructing postmortem period. Based on condition of the remains and recovery context: providing data regarding the death event. If the anthropologist has participated in recovery, he or she will document recovery processes and forensic taphonomy of site.