FSC239Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Metal Detector, Thermography, Taphonomy
Document Summary
Search for; identification and examination of, skelton remains of potential legal importance. Forensic significance, taphonomy, time since death, trauma, identification. Remote sensing: aerial photography, thermal imaging. Geophysical methods: ground penetrating radar, metal detector. Ground search: line searches most common. People side to side, advance in unison. Able to augment with probes, cadaver dogs, heavy machinery. Proper documentation and preservation of evidence - construct horizontal and vertical profiles. Remains disturbed if graves moved or by treasure hunters. Evident if bones are labeled, numbered or appear very polished. Compile information from the skeleton facilitate an identification. Includes estimations of: sex, age, ancestry, stature. Referring to biological sex, not gender, which is a social construct. Fundamental physiological differences between males and females. Morphological differences between male and females pelvis due to the need females giving birth to kids. Skeleton is dynamic, with existing bone being degraded and new bone being formed. Use knowledge of how bone changes with time to estimate age.
