M1: Osteology, Anthropology
& Forensic Context
Lecture 6
Establishing Forensic Context: Medico-Legal Relevance
MEDICO-LEGAL REMAINS
o Those for which cause and manner of death are determined and
a death certificate is generated
CAUSE OF DEATH
Are Remains of o Disease or injury that initiates a sequence of events that results
Medico-Legal in death
Significance? o Ex.) gunshot wounds, blunt force trauma
MANNER OF DEATH
o The way the cause of death comes into being
o Ex.) homicide, suicide, accident, natural
If more than 50 years old… the skeleton is considered archeological
Five factors to assess
o ❶ State of Preservation
If Human, Is It o ❷ Body Modifications
Contemporary? o ❸ Unintentional Body Changes
o ❹ Personal Belongings, Material Culture
o ❺ Conditions of Interment and Context
Color
o Yellowish-White fresh
o Darker Staining soil
o Color, White bleached
o ** the sun can bleach the bone and whiten it
Texture
o Young = Smooth
o Old = Grainy or Pitted
Hydration
o Greasy feel to fresh bone
FACTOR 1 Weight
State of o Loss of Fluids & Calcium Salts not scientific, an impression,
Preservation fossilization and mineralization can occur however
Condition
o Fragmentation is a progressive process
Fragility
o More Exposure = More Fragile and Crumbly
Soft Tissue
o Depends on environment, mummies in the SW, mummification
can occur quickly
o Mummification can occur rapidly in certain climates
These are just rules, use all evidence to come up with a picture
FACTOR 2 Cranial Deformation
Dental Modifications
Intentional Body
Prosthetics
Modification
& Forensic Context
Lecture 6
Establishing Forensic Context: Medico-Legal Relevance
MEDICO-LEGAL REMAINS
o Those for which cause and manner of death are determined and
a death certificate is generated
CAUSE OF DEATH
Are Remains of o Disease or injury that initiates a sequence of events that results
Medico-Legal in death
Significance? o Ex.) gunshot wounds, blunt force trauma
MANNER OF DEATH
o The way the cause of death comes into being
o Ex.) homicide, suicide, accident, natural
If more than 50 years old… the skeleton is considered archeological
Five factors to assess
o ❶ State of Preservation
If Human, Is It o ❷ Body Modifications
Contemporary? o ❸ Unintentional Body Changes
o ❹ Personal Belongings, Material Culture
o ❺ Conditions of Interment and Context
Color
o Yellowish-White fresh
o Darker Staining soil
o Color, White bleached
o ** the sun can bleach the bone and whiten it
Texture
o Young = Smooth
o Old = Grainy or Pitted
Hydration
o Greasy feel to fresh bone
FACTOR 1 Weight
State of o Loss of Fluids & Calcium Salts not scientific, an impression,
Preservation fossilization and mineralization can occur however
Condition
o Fragmentation is a progressive process
Fragility
o More Exposure = More Fragile and Crumbly
Soft Tissue
o Depends on environment, mummies in the SW, mummification
can occur quickly
o Mummification can occur rapidly in certain climates
These are just rules, use all evidence to come up with a picture
FACTOR 2 Cranial Deformation
Dental Modifications
Intentional Body
Prosthetics
Modification
