Forensic and Investigative Science FIS 20500 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Taphonomy, Pallor, Ethnology
25 Aug 2016
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Women have wider, broader hips to handle pregnancy. Can determine age, gender, ancestry, height, race. Looking at bones like pelvic bone, skull, teeth. Ancestry and race (determined by skull) is the most difficult. Taphonomy: examines the history of the body after death. It"s used to help make ids, help determine cause & manner of death, estimate time since death, and locate illegitimate graves. Anthropology: the study of humans (culture & biology) (past & present) 4 disciplines: paleoanthropology, bioanthropology, archaeology, & ethnology. Rigor mortis: joints & muscles relax & stiffen. The burial is treated as a crime scene, experts must be consulted before anything is removed. Dirt is removed down to the bottom for skeleton (pedestalling). Humans walk on 2 legs so our bones are slightly different. The study of teeth, bite marks, tooth identification. Cause and manner of death, condition of body & organs, diseases, injuries, drugs/alcohol/poison. Secondary: what led to death; high cholesterol.
