Anthropology

=//__ Forensic Anthropology __//=

Overview
Forensic anthropology is used to identify the remains of individuals who have burned, mutilated, are extremely decomposed or are otherwise unrecognizable. Anthropologists can determine sex, gender, stature, ancestry, potential illnesses and cause of death. determining these characteristics can be crucial in finding the perpetrator of the crime. t do this anthro points ask a series of questions then answer them using various forms of equipment and tests available to them, some of these questions are, is it bone? if so is it human? how many people are there? and how old are they?

Education
In order to become a forensic anthropologist one must have:
 * Ba in anthropology
 * Masters in physical anthropology
 * Masters in osteology (optional)
 * A PhD in one of those fields (optional)

pay ranges from $35 000 to $50 000 starting out. professors with PhDs can make anywhere between $50 000 and $100 000.

Tools

 * **Gas Chromatography**- employing a gas as the moving carrier medium.
 * **Forensic radiology**- using X-rays and other imaging technology to assist in investigating and gathering evidence
 * **Mass Spectrometry**- study of matter through the formation of gas-phase ions that are detected and characterized by their mass and charge
 * **Ground Penetrating Radar**- a geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. This nondestructive method uses electromagnetic radiation and detects the reflected signals from subsurface structures.
 * **Flotation**- involves using water to process soil to recover tiny artifacts. Dried soil is placed on a screen, and water is gently bubbled up through the soil. Seeds, charcoal and other light material float off, and tiny pieces of stone, bone fragments, and other relatively heavy materials are left behind.

How it Helps
Forensic anthropologists know that the biological profile derived from corpse examination has the potential to reveal a victim's personal history. For example, fine horizontal grooves on the victim's front teeth indicate that the victim may have been very ill or malnourished when these teeth were developing during childhood. Fractures to bones of the face, ribs, and hands that are in various stages of healing may suggest a history of domestic violence, while the presence of orthopaedic implants in the knee may have resulted from sports-related injuries. So, analyzing a victim's biological profile often uncovers clues regarding the victim's life history, an unknown fact that will hopefully facilitate the victim's positive iden tification. Once the biological profile of the victim is completed, the next step is the forensic anthropologist?s analysis of trauma that occurred around the time of death. Yet, identifying whether a mark was caused by a knife stabbed into the victim at the time of death or by lawn mower blades hitting the bones months or years after death can only come from the experience of years spent evaluating thousands of bones, whether in a morgue, laboratory, or museum. For this reason, medical examiners and other forensic specialists rely on the expertise of forensic anthropologists. Forensic anthropologists are also trained to evaluate and recognize how the environment can alter the appearance and composition of bone over the span of time since death. The addition of forensic anthropologists early in an investigation helps to ensure maximum recovery and protection of the human skeleton remains and allows the evidence response team members to focus upon other lines of evidence (fingerprints, DNA). Furthermore, a forensic anthropologist's skeletal analysis helps to identify the victim and determine how the victim may have died. **A Modern Case Study** A man's remains were buried without autopsy after a house fire because his death was considered accidental. Evidence obtained many years later led to the body being dug up and to determine whether the death was a homicide. Was the dwelling set on fire to disguise a murder? In addition to numerous healed bone injuries, at least seven unhealed cuts can be identified on this individual. It would have taken a large, sharp knife to completely slice through the bone. Postmortem changes in the bones indicate that the body was burned and buried without being preserved. The cranium was sectioned by a medical examiner, who worked with a forensic anthropologist after the remains were exhumed. The light colour of the sawed edge of the cranial vault indicates that this cut occurred during the recent autopsy. As a result of the autopsy's findings, analysis or the antemortem, perimortem, postmortem clues and related criminal investigations in this case, a suspect was brought to trial and found guilty of murder and arson.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY: http://www.forensicanthropologist.net/ http://www.sfu.museum/forensics/eng/pg_media-media_pg/anthropologie-anthropology/ http://anthropology.si.edu/writteninbone/forensic_anthro.html http://education-portal.com/articles/Forensic_Anthropologist_Job_Description_Outlook_and_Salary.html Nafte, Myriam. Flesh and Bone: An Introduction to Forensic Anthropology. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic, 2000. Print.