5th Edition
Forensic Anthropology Laboratory Manual
This manual provides students in academic laboratory courses with hands-on experience of the major processes of forensic anthropology. Designed to accompany the textbook Introduction to Forensic Anthropology 6th edition, the manual introduces core procedures and protocol, with exercise worksheets to reinforce the methodologies of forensic anthropology and enhance student comprehension. For the fifth edition, the manual has been updated in line with the textbook, incorporating new methods, figures, and worksheets. Each chapter contains explanations of the terminology, osteological features, and measurements needed to understand each of the topics. New for this edition, in many chapters students will find the incorporation of QR codes to give them immediate access to relevant video or website content to assist with the task at hand. In addition, in an attempt to create an inclusive learning environment, the authors have included online resources for most chapters that can be used in place of plastic skeletons or other classroom resources so that all students can utilize the lab manual regardless of their classroom setup. Chapters may be covered in one session or multiple sessions and include lists of both basic and optional lab materials, enabling instructors to tailor each lab to the resources they have available.
1. Introduction
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
2a. Basics of Human Osteology and Odontology
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Basic Terms
Exercise 2.1: Cranial Skeleton
Exercise 2.2: Axial Skeleton
Exercise 2.3: Appendicular Skeleton: Upper Limbs
Exercise 2.4: Appendicular Skeleton: Lower Limbs
Exercise 2.5: Human Odontology
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
2b. Measurements
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 2b.1 Basic Instruments and Their Use
Exercise 2b.2 Metric System and U.S. Measure
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
3. Establishing Medicolegal Significance
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Bones and Teeth versus Other Materials Exercise
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Human Versus Nonhuman Exercise
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Recent Versus Nonrecent Exercise
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 3.1: Distinguishing Bone and Teeth from Other Material
Exercise 3.2: Distinguishing Human from Nonhuman Remains
Exercise 3.3: Distinguishing Recent from Nonrecent Remains
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
4. Recovery Scene Methods
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 4: Surface-Deposited Body (Outdoor or Indoor)
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
5. Estimating Postmortem Interval
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 5.1: Estimating PMI Using General Decomposition
Exercise 5.2: Estimating PMI Using TBS and ADD
Exercise 5.3: Estimating PMI Using TADS and ADD
Exercise 5.4: Estimating PMI Using Animal Scavenging
Exercise 5.5: Estimating PMI Using Deterioration of Clothing and Other Materials
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
6. Initial Treatment and Examination
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 6.1: Reconstruction
Exercise 6.2: Sorting
Exercise 6.3: Reassembly
Exercise 6.4: Inventorying Remains
Exercise 6.5: Highly Fragmented Remains
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
7. Attribution of Population Affinity
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 7.1: Estimating Population Affinity Using the Frequencies of Ordinally Scored Cranial Anthroposcopic Traits
Exercise 7.2: Estimating Population Affinity Using Dental Characteristics
Exercise 7.3: Estimating Population Affinity Using Discriminant Function Analysis of Dental Traits
Exercise 7.4: Estimating Population Affinity Using Osteometry
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
8. Attribution of Sex
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 8.1: Estimating Sex Using Pelvic Anthroposcopy
Exercise 8.2: Estimating Sex Using Cranial Anthroposcopy
Exercise 8.3: Estimating Sex Using MorphoPASSE
Exercise 8.3: Estimating Sex Using Cranial Metrics: Discriminant Functions
Exercise 8.4: Estimating Sex Using Postcranial Metrics
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
9. Estimation of Age at Death
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
SUBADULTS
Exercise 9.1: Estimating Age at Death Using Long Limb Bone Measurements
Exercise 9.2: Estimating Age at Death Using Union of Primary Ossification Centers
Exercise 9.3: Estimating Age at Death Using Tooth Formation and Eruption
Exercise 9.4: Estimating Age at Death Using Epiphyseal Union
ADULTS
Exercise 9.5: Estimating Age at Death Using Symphyseal Surface
Exercise 9.6: Estimating Age at Death Using Auricular Surface of the Os Coxae
Exercise 9.7: Estimating Age at Death Using Sternal Rib Ends
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
10. Calculation of Stature
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 10.1: Calculating Stature Using Long Limb Bones
Exercise 10.2: Calculating Stature Using the Fully Method
Exercise 10.3: Calculating Stature From Fleshed Body Segments
Exercise 10.4: Adjustments to Stature Calculations
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
11. Death, Trauma, and the Skeleton
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 11.1: Basics of Bone Trauma
Exercise 11.2: Forces Causing Trauma
Exercise 11.3: Types of Trauma
Exercise 11.4: Timing of Bone Injury
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
12. Projectile Trauma
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 12: Analysis of Projectile Wounds
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
13. Blunt Trauma
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 13.1: Analyzing Blunt Trauma to the Skull
Exercises 13.2A and 13.2B: Analyzing Blunt Trauma to the Postcranial Bones
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
14. Sharp and Miscellaneous Trauma
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 14.1: Analyzing Sharp Trauma
Exercise 14.2: Analyzing Strangulation
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
15. Antemortem Skeletal Conditions
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 15.1: Analyzing Pathological Conditions
Exercise 15.2: Analyzing Skeletal Anomalies
Exercise 15.3: Analyzing Occupational Stress Markers
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
16. Postmortem Changes to Bone
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 16.1: Analyzing Saw Marks
Exercise 16.2: Analyzing Other Postmortem Damage
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
17. Additional Aspects of Individualization
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 17.1: Facial Approximation
Exercise 17.2: Computerized Facial Reconstruction
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
18. Obtaining an Identification
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 18.1: Identification From Radiographs
Exercise 18.2: Identification From Photographic Superimposition
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
19. Conclusion
Learning Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Minimum Materials
Optional Materials
Exercise 19.1: Forensic Anthropology Report
Exercise 19.2: Expert Witness Testimony Evaluation
Note to Instructors
Exercise Worksheets
Biography
Steven N. Byers has a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico (UNM), USA. Now retired, he worked for a number of years on various campuses of UNM, teaching courses in Forensic Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, and Archaeology. He is currently serving on the Anthropology Consensus Body of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board, in addition to focusing on Southeastern United States bioarchaeology. Byers’ publications with Taylor & Francis include Introduction to Forensic Anthropology (in its 6th edition), and Forensic Anthropology Lab Manual (in its 4th edition).
Chelsey A. Juarez is an Associate professor of Anthropology and the Director of the Fresno State Forensic Anthropology Laboratory at California State University Fresno. She is also Director of the Central California Missing and Unidentified Deceased Persons Cold Case Initiative, a 19-county initiative to identify the deceased unidentified in rural Central California. Her research interests focus on isotopic investigations of provenance, and diet with a special focus on the Latino Diaspora, and the U.S. Mexico border through time. In addition, Juarez has researched and written about child abuse, intimate partner violence, and case accuracy trends in Forensic Anthropology. Dr. Juarez is a first generation Mexican-American. She holds a Doctorate from University of California Santa Cruz in Biological Anthropology with a specialization in Forensic Anthropology, and the Latino Diaspora.
