Forensic Anthropology Research Paper

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Forensic Anthropology
Introduction
Forensic anthropology is the examination of human remains by agencies working for the law enforcement. It involves determination of identity as well as cause and time of death. Forensic anthropology applies the same methods used by physical anthropologists but applies to recent cases of human remains. The work of the forensic anthropologist is to help assist law enforcement agencies in establishing a good profile of unidentified remains of a human body. The developed profile includes details on sex, age, race, time since death as well as involves evaluation of trauma that resulted in the fatality. It is not only identification of the remains but also involves testifying his findings in the court on the identity and remains of the body.
The science of forensic anthropology is a relatively new branch. But has developed to a considerable extent till date with addition of new techniques that eases the means of identification. Apart from classical methods of identifying and characterizing bones certain molecular practices such as those related to DNA analysis have led to many successful identification of human remains. The science can be learned in a little detail through understanding the history, and its applications. …show more content…

In this period a detailed framework was constructed by Thomas Dwight who is called the father of forensic anthropology. His work was much detailed in the United States. The work of Thomas Dwight included detailed journals, essays and talks on how human skeletal remains may be identified which seeded the start of forensic anthropology. Methods of developing inference to height, age and sex were established from the sternum. A method of establishing stature from remains of the arms and legs as well as establishment of age using bone closure between joints. He also devised a means to identify sex of the deceased using joints in long bones (Ubelaker, D. H.

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