David R. Hunt

The Measure and Mismeasure of the Tibia: Implications for Stature Estimation

Trotter and Glesers stature estimation formulae, based on skeletons of the Terry collection and on WWII casualties, have been widely used in forensic work. Our work with the Terry and WWII data yielded tibia lengths too short compared to other data sets. Using Trotters original measurements, we discovered that she consistently mismeasured the tibia. Contrary to standard practice and her own definitions, she omitted the malleolus from the measurement. Trotters measurements of the tibia are 10 to 12 mm shorter than they should have been, resulting in stature estimations averaging 2.5 to 3.0 cm too great when the formulae are used with properly measured tibia. We also examined tibia lengths of Korean War casualties, which were measured by technicians rather than by Trotter. Korean tibia measurements are also too short, but by a smaller amount than Terry and WWII. Since the Korean tibia are unavailable for restudy, it is unclear how they were measured. Estimation of stature from Trotter and Glesers tibia formulae is to be avoided if possible. If necessary, the 1952 formulae could be used with tibia measured in the same manner that Trotter measured, excluding the malleolus.

Non-invasive investigations of human mummified remains by radiographic techniques

Radiography has been used as a tool for mummy research practically since its discovery by Roentgen. Within the same year as Roentgens discovery, (1896) reported on an x-ray image taken of a mummy in Germany. The next year, Sir Flinders Petrie used x-rays to study a mummy at the British Museum but was constrained by the size and weight of the equipment and only imaged the feet. In 1897 in Vienna, a doctor named Block x-rayed a whole mummy for a medical study. Eminent Egyptologist, Georg Ebers studied these findings (El Mahdy, 1989: 75). Tuthmoses IV was x-rayed by Khayat in 1903 and the films were studied by G. Eliot Smith. Smith determined the remains were much younger than the age estimated from translated writings (Smith, 1914). The results of this report began a long debate concerning historical estimates of Pharaonic age versus the biological age of Thutmoses. Were the historical estimates wrong? Was Smith wrong in his assessment? Or could the mummy have been mis-identified?

THE INFLUENCE OF WILLIAM M. BASS III ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY

Through his teaching, research and casework over the last 33 years, William M. Bass has become a central figure in the development of the American forensic anthropology. His influence can be measured through the quantity and activity of his students in the field, the number and breadth of his publications relating to the field, his growing casework, his activity and important role in the development of the Physical Anthropology section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and his continual willingness to lecture to interested groups. Like many of his contemporaries in physical anthropology. Bass gradually shifted his academic interests toward forensic anthropology throughout his career. This shift is reflected in all areas of his academic life. His contributions have raised professionalism and acceptance of forensic anthropology as an integrated aspect of both forensic science and anthropology. Basss unique style and breadth of his contributions can be traced to his education (University of Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania) and his mentors (Coon, Krogman, Stewart, Eisley and Roberts).

Rapid development of secondary hyperparathyroidism and fibrous osteodystrophy in a juvenile orangutan

This study presents a probable case of rapidly-developed fibrous osteodystrophy and secondary hyperparathyroidism in a juvenile wild-caught zoo orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus. Cases of this metabolic disease, associated with captivity in primates, are underreported in non-human Hominidae, and none to the extent of postcranial afflictions. We present the first described case of these metabolic pathologies of a great ape at both the cranial and skeletal levels.

Temporal trends in femoral diaphyseal torsional asymmetry among the Arikara associated with postural behavior

Average femoral torsion has been reported to differ among populations, and several studies have observed a relatively high prevalence of femoral anteversion asymmetry in Native Americans, especially females. This study investigates sexual dimorphism and temporal trends in femoral torsional asymmetry among the Arikara from the seventeenth to the early nineteenth century. To establish if there are population differences, femoral torsion was first measured using a direct method on a diverse comparative sample of Native Americans from the Southwest, Midwest, and Great Plains as well as American Whites and Blacks. To examine temporal trends among the Arikara, femoral torsion was examined using the orientation of the maximum bending rigidity at subtrochanteric in 154 females and 164 males from three temporal variants of the Arikara Coalescent tradition. There is significant sexual dimorphism in femoral torsional directional and absolute asymmetry among most Native American samples, but not among American Whites and Blacks. Among the Arikara there is significant sexual dimorphism in femoral torsional asymmetry in all three temporal variants, and asymmetry in femoral torsional asymmetry increased significantly from the protohistoric to the early historic period among females. The increased femoral torsional asymmetry is likely associated with a common side-sitting posture observed in historic photographs of Great Plains females. Historic Arikara females may have habitually sat in this compulsory position for extended periods while conducting domestic chores. The dramatic change from the protohistoric to historic period suggests a cultural change in sitting posture among females that was widespread across the Northern Plains.

Intercondylar eminences and their effect on the maximum length measure of the tibia.

Abstract:  Maximum length measurement of the tibia has been found to be variable both in description and implementation. Historically, the literature often excludes the intercondylar eminences from the tibia in metric analysis. This paper explores the quantitative effects of inclusion or exclusion of the eminences on the maximum length measure across ancestral population, age and sex in five human adult populations of American Whites and Blacks, two Native American samples, and East Asians. A Tukey’s post hoc comparison was employed to determine the overall effect of inclusion the intercondylar eminences has on metric assessment of the tibia. Results show no significant effect on comparative analysis of the tibia by age or sex. However, the difference between sample means by ancestry is significant (p < 0.0001). These results pose interesting questions concerning the morphological differences between ancestral groups. This investigation prompts further study of population variation of the human knee.

A History Not to be Forgotten: Mass Burials in Mongolia

˜ ˜ ˜ ® n the summer of 2003, while Smithsonian physical anthropologist Bruno Frohlich was surveying burial mounds in the Hovsgol aimag (province), he was informed by Naran Bazarsad of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences that mass burials had been discovered earlier that year at Hambiin Ovoo outside Ulaanbaatar. The mass burials had been excavated by monks, but there were many concerns that the mass graves had not been documented adequately for historic and forensic purposes. A few miles outside the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, construction workers removing fill for housing construction had found the remains of many individuals with Buddhist monks’ clothing and religious objects. They notified the lamas at Ulaanbaatar’s Gandan Monastery, whose leader Lama Purevbat decided to have the monastery lamas retrieve as many bodies as possible and render Buddhist ceremonies and burial practices for the dead. The number of crania and femora (thigh bones) uncovered in their work suggested that the grave site contained more than 600 individuals. Following the removal of the bodies with large construction equipment, the lamas performed rituals for the dead and cremated the remains at the mass grave site. Subsequent negotiations between the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and Lama Purevbat and his associates from the Gandan Monastary resulted in a plan for continued excavation of the burial site at a later time through the application of modern forensic techniques and evidence collection. As part of this negotiation, Bruno Frohlich visited the Gandan Monastery where Lama Purevbat gave him a fascinating introduction to Buddhist mortuary practices, Buddhist anatomical learning, and the traditional treatment of human remains. The Mongolian Academy of Sciences agreed to coordinate with the Gandan Monastery and notify the Smithsonian Institution when the scientists could proceed with further study. A few months later, the Mongolian Academy of Sciences approved the continued documentation and investigation. Frohlich and Naran were to organize survey and excavation at the Hambiin Ovoo site with the assistance of Smithsonian physical anthropologist David Hunt and Erdene Batshatar, Tsend Amgalantugs, Enkhtur Altangerel, Batsukh Dunburee, and Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan from the Institute of Archeology and the National Museum of Mongolian History.