Tanya R. Peckmann

Sex determination from the calcaneus in a 20th century Greek population using discriminant function analysis

The skull and post-cranium have been used for the determination of sex for unknown human remains. However, in forensic cases where skeletal remains often exhibit postmortem damage and taphonomic changes the calcaneus may be used for the determination of sex as it is a preservationally favored bone. The goal of the present research was to derive discriminant function equations from the calcaneus for estimation of sex from a contemporary Greek population. Nine parameters were measured on 198 individuals (103 males and 95 females), ranging in age from 20 to 99 years old, from the University of Athens Human Skeletal Reference Collection. The statistical analyses showed that all variables were sexually dimorphic. Discriminant function score equations were generated for use in sex determination. The average accuracy of sex classification ranged from 70% to 90% for the univariate analysis, 82.9% to 87.5% for the direct method, and 86.2% for the stepwise method. Comparisons to other populations were made. Overall, the cross-validated accuracies ranged from 48.6% to 56.1% with males most often identified correctly and females most often misidentified. The calcaneus was shown to be useful for sex determination in the twentieth century Greek population.

Possible relationship between porotic hyperostosis and smallpox infections in nineteenth-century populations in the northern frontier, South Africa

Smallpox was a significant shaper of life histories for indigenous South African peoples during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It was responsible for the demise of entire social structures and even entire communities of peoples. Survival of smallpox affords the individual natural immunity for the remainder of his or her life. The virus is undetectable in a smallpox survivor, as he or she now possesses the antibodies for that disease. Therefore, positive identification of the viral DNA will be present only in individuals who died from the virus. The historical record combined with the presence of large numbers of individuals exhibiting porotic hyperostosis and cribra orbitalia are the main reasons for investigating the presence of smallpox in the Griqua, Khoe, and ‘Black’ African communities. Although the ancient DNA results were inconclusive for the smallpox virus, its presence in these communities during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries combined with the high rates of PH and CO suggest a possible relationship between the cause of death and smallpox epidemics.

Sex determination in a contemporary Mexican population using the scapula

The scapula is useful for sex determination in human skeletons. Muscles provide protection to the scapula making it difficult to fracture, therefore increasing the potential for undamaged scapulae at forensic scenes. The goal of this project is to evaluate the accuracy of discriminant functions, created using an indigenous Guatemalan population when applied to a contemporary Mexican sample for determination of sex from the scapula. The length of the glenoid cavity (LGC) and breadth of the glenoid cavity (BGC) were measured. The sample included 177 individuals (101 males and 76 females) with age ranges from 21 to 100 years old. When the Guatemalan discriminant functions were applied to the Mexican sample they showed high accuracy rates for sexing male scapulae (100%) and low accuracy rates for sexing female scapulae (48.68%-51.32%). Size comparisons were made to an indigenous Guatemalan sample and a contemporary White sample. Overall, LGC and BGC were larger in the Mexican sample than in the Guatemalan sample but LGC and BGC were smaller in the Mexican sample than in the White sample. Population-specific discriminant functions were created for the Mexican population with an overall sex classification accuracy rate of 83.6%-89.3%.

In Vivo Facial Tissue Depth for Canadian Aboriginal Children: A Case Study from Nova Scotia, Canada

This study examines facial tissue depth in Canadian Aboriginal children. Using ultrasound, measurements were taken at 19 points on the faces of 392 individuals aged 3–18 years old. The relationships between tissue thickness, age, and sex were investigated. A positive linear trend may exist between tissue thickness and age for Aboriginal females and males at multiple points. No points show significant differences in facial tissue depth between males and females aged 3–8 years old; seven points show significant differences in facial tissue depth between males and females aged 9–13 years old; and five points show significant differences in facial tissue depth between males and females aged 14–18 years old. Comparisons were made with White Americans and African Nova Scotians. These data can assist in 3‐D facial reconstructions and aid in establishing an individuals identity. Previously, no data existed for facial tissue thickness in Canadian Aboriginal populations.

Steadily Increasing Control: The Professionalization of Mass Death

Recent mass death incidents in Japan and Haiti have again focused attention on the challenge of dealing with large numbers of dead. Focusing on mass death incidents involving large numbers of Canadian victims, including the Titanic, Halifax explosion, Air India bombing and the 2004 Tsunami, the paper researches incidents dating back to the beginning of the 20th Century. By examining each stage of the process including initial response, identification, funerals, communication, religious services and inquests, the paper identifies key changes in the way that mass death incidents are handled. For example, the research identifies greater professionalization and state control of mass death incidents, increased reliance on experts and technology and increased emphasis on accurate identification, through forensics, and causes, through inquests and inquiries.

Sex determination from the talus in a contemporary Greek population using discriminant function analysis

The determination of sex is an important part of building the biological profile for unknown human remains. Many of the bones traditionally used for the determination of sex are often found fragmented or incomplete in forensic and archaeological cases. The goal of the present research was to derive discriminant function equations from the talus, a preservationally favoured bone, for sexing skeletons from a contemporary Greek population. Nine parameters were measured on 182 individuals (96 males and 86 females) from the University of Athens Human Skeletal Reference Collection. The individuals ranged in age from 20 to 99 years old. The statistical analyses showed that all measured parameters were sexually dimorphic. Discriminant function score equations were generated for use in sex determination. The average accuracy of sex classification ranged from 65.2% to 93.4% for the univariate analysis, 90%-96.5% for the direct method and 86.7% for the stepwise method. Comparisons to other populations were made. Overall, the cross-validated accuracies ranged from 65.5% to 83.2% and males were most often correctly identified. The talus was shown to be useful for sex determination in the modern Greek population.

Taking the Pulse of Forensic Anthropology in Canada

ABSTRACT The current state of forensic anthropology is evaluated by a limited cross-section of active practitioners from across Canada. The number of specialists undertaking casework in this area of forensic science is growing, as are expectations of the quality of our work from death investigative agencies nationally. However, the majority of forensic anthropologists in Canada are university-based and inadequately supported by their administrative units in terms of secure lab facilities and finances. Federal and Provincial funding agencies that could support research in this field and assist with creating infrastructure to meet emerging expectations of standards of forensic practice are by and large not doing so. Across Canada, unevenness of standards of training, practice and support reflects a lack of appreciation of forensic anthropology by society as a whole, as well as by funding agencies and the legal community. It also reflects the willingness of individual forensic anthropologists to accept this neglect and under-valuation of their work, likely because of a professional commitment to the task which they accept as a social responsibility. It is recommended that a national consensus of standards of practice, facilities and training be achieved among forensic anthropologists so as to place pressure on federal funding agencies in Canada to support forensic anthropology adequately in the future.

Determination of sex from the patella in a contemporary Spanish population

The skull and pelvis have been used for the determination of sex for unknown human remains. However, in forensic cases where skeletal remains often exhibit postmortem damage and taphonomic changes the patella may be used for the determination of sex as it is a preservationally favoured bone. The goal of the present research was to derive discriminant function equations from the patella for estimation of sex from a contemporary Spanish population. Six parameters were measured on 106 individuals (55 males and 51 females), ranging in age from 22 to 85 years old, from the Granada Osteological Collection. The statistical analyses showed that all variables were sexually dimorphic. Discriminant function score equations were generated for use in sex determination. The overall accuracy of sex classification ranged from 75.2% to 84.8% for the direct method and 75.5%-83.8% for the stepwise method. When the South African White discriminant functions were applied to the Spanish sample they showed high accuracy rates for sexing female patellae (90%-95.9%) and low accuracy rates for sexing male patellae (52.7%-58.2%). When the South African Black discriminant functions were applied to the Spanish sample they showed high accuracy rates for sexing male patellae (90.9%) and low accuracy rates for sexing female patellae (70%-75.5%). The patella was shown to be useful for sex determination in the contemporary Spanish population.

Decomposition rates and taphonomic changes associated with the estimation of time since death in a summer climate : a case study from urban Nova Scotia

Abstract Estimating time since death has an integral role in missing persons and found human remains cases; therefore, it is necessary to understand decomposition rates and taphonomic changes for the environment in which a body is found. Most research related to rates of human decomposition has been conducted in environments that do not reflect the temperate climate of Nova Scotia, Canada. The lower temperatures slow the decomposition processes and taphonomic changers, thus increasing the apparent postmortem interval. A pilot project was carried out in an urban Nova Scotia environment. It examined the decomposition rates of four domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) deposited on the ground surface and allowed to decompose naturally. Results from this study indicate that skeletonization begins between days 64 and 80 and that the rate of decomposition occurs logarithmically. The slower decomposition rates, present in this climate, indicate the necessity of regional data to assist in forensic investigations.

Sex determination using the mesio-distal dimension of permanent maxillary incisors and canines in a modern Chilean population.

The pelvis and skull have been shown to be the most accurate skeletal elements for the determination of sex. Incomplete or fragmentary bones are frequently found at forensic sites however teeth are often recovered in forensic cases due to their postmortem longevity. The goal of the present research was to investigate sexual dimorphism between the mesio-distal dimension of the permanent maxillary incisors and canines for the determination of sex in a contemporary Chilean population. Three hundred and three dental models (126 males and 177 females) from individuals ranging in age from 13 years to 37 years old were used from the School of Dentistry, University of Chile. The statistical analyses showed that only the central incisors and canines were sexually dimorphic. Discriminant function score equations were generated for use in sex determination. The average accuracy of sex classification ranged from 59.7% to 65.0% for the univariate analysis and 60.1% to 66.7% for the multivariate analysis. Comparisons to other populations were made. Overall, the accuracies ranged from 54.4% to 63.3% with males most often identified correctly and females most often misidentified. The determination of sex from the mesio-distal width of incisors and canines in Chilean populations does not adhere to the Mohan and Daubert criteria and therefore would not be presented as evidence in court.