Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 14.2
The Dependence of the Number of Matches, and the Number of Individuals Matching in this
Data Set, Under Both Criteria, for the Maxilla and Mandible, and as a Function of Increasing RMS Scatter
Level, or Decreased Measurement Resolution
Fraction of RMS Scatter
100%
125%
150%
Number of
Matches
Number of
Individuals
Number of
Matches
Number of
Individuals
Number of
Matches
Number of
Individuals
Procrustes
Maxillary
1691
487
21358
873
85282
1007
Mandibular
129
131
3119
500
18543
769
Both
1
2
526
246
6826
579
Procrustes
Maxillary
763
396
9660
826
39854
1001
Mandibular
75
83
1658
451
9510
759
Both
2
4
166
144
2056
502
The percentages are of the actual repeated measure scatter, so 125% represents a 25% increase in measurement error (603 351
total comparisons, 1099 individuals).
The authors of this study interpreted the results to mean that the human anterior denti-
tion is not unique in an open population—the characteristics of the dentition are not gen-
erally suitable for uniquely identifying an individual. There is a tremendous amount of
work left to be done to understand the effectiveness of forensic bitemark comparisons, but
these results contradict the earlier claims of
Rawson et al. (1984)
and
Kieser et al. (2007)
about the uniqueness in this portion of the human dentition.
SEX ESTIMATION IN A FORENSIC CONTEXT
Sex estimation of humans is of interest in many forensic contexts (
Krogman and Iscan,
1986
) as well as in anthropological studies. One classic approach to sex estimation in post-
mortem settings has been to examine the pelvic structure, particularly the sciatic notch, but
also the ischiopubic complex (
MacLaughlin and Bruce, 1990; Bruzek, 2002
). Approaches
have been based on qualitative statements about these structures, on traditional morphomet-
ric methods and on geometric morphometric methods (
Gonzalez et al., 2009; Steyn and
Iscan, 2008
). In the study carried out by Gonzalez and colleagues, a total of 121 human pel-
vic specimens were obtained from museum anthropological collections. The individuals
were of European ancestry and had been buried in the 19th and 20th centuries. Photographs
were taken with the camera oriented perpendicular to the largely two-dimensional plane of
the structures of interest: the sciatic notch and the margin of the ischiopubic complex. Two
landmarks and 14 semilandmarks were placed along the sciatic notch, with the landmarks
