ANTHROP 3FA3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Forensic Anthropology, Body Snatching, Ossuary

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTHROP 3FA3
• Professor: Rebecca Gilmour

Document Summary

The forensic anthropologist must be able to answer yes to all three of the following questions: Bones can be weathered, burned, and warped, thus preventing identification. Look at shape and angle of joint surfaces. Human bones that have not reached skeletal maturity have many bumps and ridges. Foramen magnum at base (human) vs. back of skull. Animal remains are outside the responsibility of forensic anthropologists. But some non-human remains may have forensic significance. How to tell if remains are forensically significant: Remains that are forensically significant and require legal investigation: Does shift depending on the nature of the case. Were not in the care of a physician. More likely to be recent if soft tissue is present. Bones buried in the soil are often various shades of brown while bones that have been exposed to the sun and elements are white.