FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY

Abstract:

Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology and human osteology in a legal setting, most often in criminal cases where the victim's remains are in the advanced stages of decomposition. A forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification of deceased individuals whose remains are decomposed, burned, mutilated or otherwise unrecognizable. The adjective "forensic" refers to the application of this subfield of science to a court of law. Much of what one sees on TV with forensic science generally borrowed from a branch of Anthropology named archaeology. Anything that changes regularly over time. Archaeologists, like TV forensic scientists, learned to wring every last piece of information out of material remains. Most recently, lots of work in forensic anthropology. Study of human remains for purposes of studying crimes. Often recent crimes, massacres, terrorism. Recent flyer to our department, advertised seminars on bones in mass burials or dispersal of bodies in bomb blasts.

Forensic anthropological techniques can be used in the recovery and analysis of human remains. A forensic analysis assesses the age, sex, stature, ancestry, and evidence for an estimate of the predominant geographical ancestry of the individual, as well as determine if the individual was affected by accidental or violent trauma or disease prior to or at the time of death. Forensic anthropologists frequently work in conjunction with forensic pathologists, odontologists, and homicide investigators to identify a decedent, discover evidence of trauma, and determine the postmortem interval. Though they typically lack the legal authority to declare the official cause of death, which is the job of forensic pathologists, their opinions are taken into consideration by the medical examiner. They may also testify in court as expert witnesses. Data from some infrequently used techniques, such as forensic facial reconstruction and superimposition, are inadmissible as forensic evidence in various countries. As part of identifying the individual's identity the following may be analyzed: age, stature, ancestry, and sex. To evaluate the time since death and the cause of death, many people from the various professional areas in the forensic field may step in; these fields include: pathology, toxicology, chemistry, biology, odontology, entomology, and psychiatry among others. All the professionals in each forensic field are a crucial part of the process of identifying the individuals' identities.

Services

Our Forensic Anthropology Laboratory includes a variety of forensic investigation services. As we know that forensic anthropology is a very interesting branch of forensic science or applied Anthropology having a wide range of forensic services such as

>> Identification of individual on the basis of skeletal remains,

>> Identification of age, stature, race, ancestry and sex of an individual,

>> Evaluation of time since death on the basis of skeletal remains,

>> Identification of bones whether of human or animals.