Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, Fourth Edition
Chapter 1. Introduction. 2
Chapter 2 Basics of Human Osteology and Odontology 9
Chapter 3 Establishing Forensic Significance 15
Chapter 4. Recovery Scene Methods. 22
Chapter 5. Estimating Postmortem Interval. 28
Chapter 6. Initial Treatment and Examination. 34
Chapter 7. Attribution of Ancestry. 40
Chapter 8. Attribution of Sex. 46
Chapter 9. Estimation of Age at Death. 53
Chapter 10. Calculation of Stature. 60
Chapter 11. Death, Trauma, and the Skeleton. 64
Chapter 12. Projectile Trauma. 68
Chapter 13. Blunt Trauma. 73
Chapter 14. Sharp and Miscellaneous Trauma. 79
Chapter 15. Antemortem Skeletal Conditions. 83
Chapter 16. Postmortem Changes to Bone. 90
Chapter 17. Additional Aspects of Individualization. 96
Chapter 18. Obtaining an Identification. 99
Chapter 19. Conclusion. 103
Chapter 1. Introduction.TRUE/FALSE. Write "T" if the statement is true and "F" if it is false
1. One definition of forensic anthropology is that it is the study of human skeletons that have been found under suspicious circumstances.
Answer: True p. 1
2. Forensic anthropologists usually study persons who have died within the last 50 years.
Answer: True p. 2
3. Forensic anthropologists not only deal with modern skeletons but also historically significant skeletal remains.
Answer: True p. 3
4. After reading the textbook, students will become experts in forensic anthropology.
Answer: False p. 3 – 4
5. Oliver Wendell Holmes and Jeffries Wyman were forensic anthropologists who helped solve the Parkman murder.
Answer: False p. 4
6. The specialists who analyzed the mutilated bodies of the Ruxton case employed methods that are still in use in forensic anthropology today.
Answer: True p. 5 – 6
7. Wilton Krogman and T. Dale Stewart are two of the main figures in the Consolidation Period of forensic anthropology.
Answer: True p. 6
8. The Modern Period of forensic anthropology started with the formation of the Physical Anthropology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
Answer: True p. 7
9. Forensic anthropologists are legally responsible for determining cause and manner of death from the skeleton.
Answer: False p. 8
10. The findings of the Frye case are now obsolete due to the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) and the various Supreme Court decisions discussed in the textbook.
Answer: False p. 9 -11
11. Of the three Supreme Court decisions discussed in the textbook, Daubert is the most important.
Answer: True p. 10 – 11
12. Clyde Snow’s list of ten questions comprise the majority of tasks for forensic anthropologists.
Answer: True p. 11 – 13
13. Like any other science, forensic anthropology has two basic methods: data gathering and data analysis.
Answer: True p. 13
14. Anthroposcopy is the measurement of metric traits in human skeletons.
Answer: False p. 14
15. Osteometry usually employs ordinal level scales.
Answer: False p. 14 – 15
16. Calipers and bone boards measure osteological structures using ratio level scales.
Answer: True p. 15
17. Decision tables help untangle conflicting data.
Answer: True p. 17 – 18
18. Range charts help untangle conflicting data.
Answer: True p. 18 – 19
19. Indexes and discriminant functions are methods for expressing visual traits in terms of numbers.
Answer: True p. 20 – 21
20. Discriminant functions are not as useful as indexes.
Answer: False p. 23
21. In discriminant functions, measurements of bone or osteological structures (e.g., jaws, face) are entered into a formula and a number calculated that indicates membership in a group.
Answer: True p. 23
22. The sectioning point separates groups in discriminant functions.
Answer: True p. 23
23. Regression equations help to predict one measurement from another.
Answer: True p. 23
24. The term regression does not adequately describe the function of these types of equations.
Answer: True p. 23
25. Although not specifically stated in Chapter 1, it seems reasonable that stature can be predicted from the lengths of many bones of the skeleton using regression equations.
Answer: True p. 23 – 25
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
26. Which one of the following is a main objective of forensic anthropological analysis?
A Determination of demographic characteristics from the skeleton
B Assist in the proper location, excavation and mapping of human remains
C Estimate postmortem interval
D All of the above
Answer: D p. 1
27. Which of the following is not a role of forensic anthropologists?
A Determination of demographic characteristics from the skeleton
B Determine cause of death
C Provide input on trauma to bone in fleshed bodies
D None of the above
Answer: B p. 1 – 3
28. The analysis of Francisco Pizzaro is an example of what role of forensic anthropologists?
A Study of historic figures of no medicolegal significance
B Determination of information on skeletons of persons who died within last 50 years
C Provide information on victims of genocide
D Consult on mass disasters
Answer: A p. 1 – 3
29. Which of the following is a development within the Formative Period of forensic anthropology?
A Basic studies of human skeletal identification
B Small bone fragments could be identified as human
C Assembly of human skeletal collections
D All of the above
Answer: D p. 4 – 5
30. Which of the following is a development within the Consolidation Period of forensic anthropology?
A Basic studies of human skeletal identification
B The use of war dead to determine stature and age from the skeleton
C Assembly of human skeletal collections
D All of the above
Answer: B p. 6
31. Which of the following is a development within the Modern Period of forensic anthropology?
A Basic studies of human skeletal identification
B Small bone fragments could be identified as human
C Creation of the Physical Anthropology section in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences
D All of the above
Answer: C p. 7
32. What is the role of forensic anthropology in the medicolegal community?
A Determine as much information on human skeletal remains as possible
B Determine cause of death
C Perform autopsies on fleshed bodies
D Identification of a decedent from dental remains
Answer: A p. 8 – 9
33. Which of the following cases allows expert testimony to be used in court if that testimony is based on principles that are generally accepted by other experts in the field?
A Frye v. United States
B FRE Rule 702
C General Electric v. Joiner
D KumhoTire Company, Ltd., v. Carmichael
Answer: A p. 9 – 10
34. Which of the following cases allows expert testimony to be used in court if that testimony is based on principles that can be, and have been, tested?
A Frye v. United States
B Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
C General Electric v. Joiner
D KumhoTire Company, Ltd., v. Carmichael
Answer: B p. 9 – 10
35. Which of the following cases prevents expert testimony to be used in court if that testimony shows too great a gap between the data and the opinion offered?
A Frye v. United States
B Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
C General Electric v. Joiner
D KumhoTire Company, Ltd., v. Carmichael
Answer: C p. 9 – 10
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