A serious issue faced in South Africa is the identification of unknown persons, particularly those who are decomposed, skeletonised or burnt. In this regard, Forensic Anthropology Cape Town (FACT), a service provider at the University of Cape Town (UCT), has assisted with identification. Data pertaining to anthropologically analysed cases in the Western Cape (WC) province is lacking and little is known about the contribution FACT has made to local forensic investigations. Thus, this study sought to identify the profile of FACT cases and evaluate their impact on police case resolution and identification. Cases referred to FACT between 2006 – 2018 from Forensic Pathology Services (FPS) were retrospectively reviewed (n = 208). Univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to find patterns in the data. Of these, 172 were of forensic relevance. There was a predominance of men (67%), and adults older than 35 years (54%). Regarding ancestry, 37% of decedents were of Mixed ancestry, 22% were of African ancestry and 3% were of European ancestry. Ante- and perimortem injuries were observed in 41% and 29% of decedents, respectively. Most decedents (51%) were discovered in high crime police precincts; however, a significant number were also found in low crime sparsely populated areas (47%), popular for recreational activities. These findings highlighted common areas for the discovery of decomposed bodies that may guide future forensic taphonomic research to better understand local decomposition rates. Positive identifications were reached for 37% of decedents, and of these, anthropological estimations were correct in 98% cases for sex, 84% for age-at-death, 80% for ancestry and 100% for stature. Communication issues between relevant stakeholders, the discretion of the authorities (when FACT would be consulted) and the availability of FACT members or resources (e.g., transport for the body to FACT laboratory) were among the main factors impacting FACT consultations and analysis; indicating that the legislation of forensic anthropology in South Africa is needed. Nevertheless, where identifications were subsequently made, the demographic estimations showed a high level of accuracy, suggesting that the anthropological techniques employed by FACT perform well in local forensic casework and FACT is assisting with social and criminal justice.

No description available.

Includes bibliographical references / The anatomical structure of circulus arteriosus cerebri was first described by Thomas Willis in 1664. Many variations in the circulus arteriosus cerebri have since been reported. The extent to which anatomical variations within the circle influence aneurysm formation in a South African sample has not yet been established. The results of such a study would be of value to clinicians treating patients with vascular diseases. The aim of the study was to determine if there is a correlation between arterial variations in the circulus arteriosus cerebri and cerebral aneurysm formation. The brains of 39 cadavers at the Faculty of Health Sciences were removed and the circulus arteriosus dissected. In addition, 113 patients who underwent a MRI or MRA of the circulus arteriosus cerebri at the Department of Radiology at the Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town were included. For both of these samples the anatomical variations and any aneurysms present were documented. The external diameters of the arteries forming the circulus arteriosus cerebri were also measured. No aneurysms were found in the cadaver sample, thus the correlation could not be tested. In the sample of images from the 113 patients, 111 images showed one or more anatomical variation of the circulus arteriosus cerebri. Of these, 59 had one or more cerebral aneurysm and 52 had no aneurysms. Statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between cerebral aneurysms and anatomical variations in the circulus arteriosus cerebri for a South Africans ample. This is contradictory to what is seen in the literature. Further investigation is required to establish the reason why the results from this South African sample differ from the results reported in the international literature.

No / n/a

Despite popular and scientific interest in mummies, very few studies of ancient Egyptian mummy collections, especially from the same area, have been conducted. As such, this research is the first comprehensive analysis of mummies from Akhmim, Egypt and is one of only a few studies that investigate a large mummy collection from both a biological and cultural point of view. A group of 25 mummies from the Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium database was evaluated using computed tomography. Using computed tomography and the associated imaging software, two dimensional (2D) x-ray scan images were analyzed, then processed and edited to generate three dimensional (3D) models of each mummy. Both the 2D and 3D images of each mummy were used to collect both biological information and cultural data in a nondestructive manner. Results from this study indicated that the population of Akhmim was very diverse. Furthermore, this research both supports and challenges conventional wisdom on how ancient Egyptians were mummifying their dead.

Skeletal remains exposed to an outdoor context are prone to post-mortem damage and fragmentation, making skeletal analysis difficult for the anthropologist. Research on ancestry and sex from isolated fragments of the cranium is necessary to improve identification of fragmented remains. The zygoma has proven to be more durable post skeletonization than other cranial bones, making research relevant into variation within the zygoma. Whilst the shape of the zygoma has been studied in a South African population using morphological, metric and geometric morphometric techniques, these studies did not include Indian South Africans. The Indian South African population comprises 2.6% of the total population but make up a larger proportion of the population in certain areas. For example, Indian South Africans comprise 7.4% of the population in Kwa-Zulu Natal and 2.9% in Gauteng. More specifically, Indian South Africans make up to 60% of the population in the suburb of Chatsworth with a further 91% of the population in sub-area of Arena Park, and 80% of the population in the Laudium suburb of Gauteng. Therefore, Indian South Africans must be included in anthropological studies attempting ancestry classifications. The purpose of the study was to assess the shape variation and projection of the zygoma attributable to sexual dimorphism and ancestral variation among South Africans, including Indian South Africans, using a geometric morphometric approach. A sample of 400 three-dimensionally (3D) reconstructed models from head CT scans of black, coloured, white, and Indian South Africans were used with an equal sex and ancestry distribution. Eleven landmarks previously described in the literature were used for the analysis. Each landmark was used to depict the most prominent points on the outline of the zygoma. Additionally, semi-landmarks were placed along the curves of the zygoma. The landmarks and semi-landmarks were tested for observer repeatability and reliability using dispersion analysis and revealed that all landmarks were repeatable. Procrustes ANOVA revealed significant differences among the population groups and between the sexes for all population groups, except between coloured South African males and females. A pairwise post-hoc test revealed that white and Indian South Africans had the most similarities except for males, where coloured and Indian South Africans had the most similarities for landmarks. Three interlandmark distances were created to assess the zygoma’s projection. The ANOVA for the projection of the zygoma revealed significant differences for both sex and ancestry except for white South African males and females and males overall for the zygomaticomaxillary length. The zygomaticomaxillary length (ZML) is defined as the maximum distance between the landmarks zygoorbitale and zygomaxilare. No significant differences were noted for female South Africans for the Superior Zygomatic Length which, is a measure of the maximum length of the superior margin of the zygoma (between porion and zygoorbitale; PorZygool). Further analysis of the zygoma’s projection involved creating angles between the interlandmark distances. The ANOVA for the angles of projection revealed significant differences between sexes and populations, except for white and Indian South African males and females at Angle1 (Angle at the intersection of ZML and PorZygoml) and Angle3 (the angle at the intersection of PorZygool and PorZygoml) and black, coloured and Indian South African males and females at Angle2 (the angle at the intersection of ZML and PorZygool). The large amount of overlap amongst ancestry groups demonstrated substantial group similarities; however, differences were noted at the zygomaxillary, zygomaticotemporal and frontomalar sutures. Overlap was also present between males and females, but on average, males were larger than females. Differences, such as a more inferior placement of the zygoorbitale landmark were noted at the inferior margin of the orbit specifically in females. Differences were also noted at the inferior margin of the orbit across all groups. Discriminant functions were created to assess the classifying ability of the shape of the zygoma. Results revealed low accuracies for ancestry classification for the shape and projection of the zygoma. However, higher accuracies were noted for sex classification for the shape and projection of the zygoma. While results demonstrate shape variation of the zygoma, the classifying ability of the zygoma is precarious at best, and the use of the zygoma in a forensic context may not be an option. However, the differences observed can be taken into consideration during medical procedures such as zygomatic and infraorbital implants. Although landmark placements were reliable and repeatable, further analysis of the zygoma using a semi-automatic surface registration method along with different imaging techniques (MicroCT and CBCT scans) may assist in the data collection procedure and may potentially increase the accuracy of the results. Furthermore, the results of the current study highlight the need for the assessment of the effects of diet, climate, age, edentulism and symmetry on the shape of the zygoma. / Dissertation (MSc (Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Anatomy / MSc (Anatomy) / Unrestricted

Com base em algumas variáveis sócio-antropológicas e três medidas antropométricas - altura, peso e índice de Kaup - de um Estudo realizado no Município de Santo André, elaboramos o presente trabalho. Para este trabalho excluímos crianças púberes, incluindo treze idades: O, 3, 6 e 9 meses, 1 ano, 1a e meio, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 e 8 anos, de ambos os sexos. As variáveis independentes utilizadas foram: ISSE - índice de situação sócio-econômica, construído com base na média de gasto mensal familiar per capita e segundo as 14 categorias de ocupação do pai e as de instrução. Considerou-se para tal, as interrelações das variáveis com o gasto, que foram tomadas como desvios em relação à média de gasto familiar per capita mensal da amostra e a média para cada casela, medidas como múl tiplos de T. CATANCES - construída a partir da informação sobre a nacionalidade dos ascendentes das crianças até a 3ª geração. Constitui-se de 2 categorias: \"todos ascendentes brasileiros\" e \"pelo menos um estrangeiro\". Grupo Residencial - dividido em três categorias: \"poucos\", \"médio\" e \"grande\", dependendo de quantas pessoas residissem na casa. Dado que já se conhecia a existência de uma relação positiva entre melhores condições de vida e desenvolvimento físico queríamos observar se isso se dava igualmente nos dois sexos e nas várias idades, e assim poder apreender diferenças entre esses grupos uma vez que só havia sido possível estratificar a amostra por idade e sexo. Essas interrelações ajudariam a melhor caracterizar a população estudada. Como esperado, encontramos uma associação positiva entre melhores condições sócio-econômicas, menor tamanho do grupo residencial e as médias das medidas. Porém, também verificamos a existência de relações entre as variáveis independentes: a) que a categoria de ISSE \"alto\" associava-se com a categoria \"pelo menos um estrangeiro\" da variável Catances, o inverso sendo verdadeiro quando a categoria era \"todos brasileiros\"; b) que, medido pelo tamanho médio do grupo residencial, há indicações de uma fecundidade diferencial, sendo esta maior para o grupo \"todos nacionais\" da variável Catances. Nesse sentido chamamos a atenção à grande concentração de migrantes de Minas e Nordeste nessa categoria. As médias das medidas foram testadas pelo método de ordenação de médias de DUNCAN, e também pela técnica de ajuste por mínimos quadrados para análises de variâncias. Verificamos ao analisar as tabelas das medidas, segundo os vários controles, que o índice de Kaup não se apresentava diferente de uma idade para outra, enquanto tal acontecia com altura e peso. Uma série de outros resultados somados a esse, evidenciou que o índice não media, ao menos para crianças em crescimento, aquilo que se propunha medir, ou seja, diferenças de estados nutricionais. Sugere-se então um ajuste de curva a fim de que, baseados nos dados empíricos, se encontre uma dada função para cada idade. Também constatou-se que embora as médias das medidas diferissem segundo as variáveis independentes, isso não acontecia igualmente nas mesmas idades e nos 2 sexos. Ainda, através dos resultados das análises de variância, observou-se que apesar das diferenças estatísticas significantes, as variáveis selecionadas explicavam muito pouco da variação das medidas nas várias idades e sexos. Esses resultados nos levaram a concluir que a amostra estudada, segundo as variáveis independentes deste estudo, difere entre idades em ambos os sexos. Isso levanta uma série de questões sobre quais as variáveis mais adequadas a um estudo desse gênero e sobre a utilização desses dados para construção de curvas de velocidade. Permitimo-nos sugerir que as tabelas por nós apresentadas no anexo 1, se consideradas as duas categorias de Catances, fossem consideradas como dois padrões: Leste-Nordeste e Sul, utilizando a idéia das tábuas de vida padrão. / The present dissertation was based in some of the data collected during the first semester of 1969, in the Município de Santo André, State of São Paulo, Brasil. The original data was partly constituted of several anthropometric measurements in 17 different ages of children from zero month onto twelve years. Some socio-economic information of their families and data concerning the country of birth (or the State of birth, if Brazilian) was also collected for three generations of the children\'s ancestors. The sample was based in the population of these ages living at the Município mentioned. The total sample was of 9,258 children, stratified by age and sex, so that one could estimate the degree of confidence of the actual sample. It is worthwhile to call attention to the criterium adopted to asses age, which was very strict, and not common in studies as such. Zero month children were measured on 2d or 3d day of life. From three to eighteen months, ± 7 days from the day of birth and from two to twelve years old, ± 14 days from the day of birth. For this study we choose only three of the measurements: height, weight and Kaup index and related them by age and sex, with three independent variables as follows: ISSE - index of socio-economic conditions, which was built considering the joint distribution of occupation and education of the father and the amount of the family expenses per capita, per month. CATANCES - meaning \"categories of ancestors\", divided into two categories: \"all ancestors were Brazilians\" and \"at least one was foreigner\". Residencial Group - (household). Depending of the size or the household, there were three different categories: \"small\", \"medium\" and \"large\". Our objectives were to study the relations between the socio-anthropological variables and the measurements selected. At the same time to have a better knowledge of the variability of the population, sampled by age and sex only. for our purposes we dealt only with 13 ages, from zero months to eight years old, excluding in this manner children entering puberty, after the definition of puberty adopted in the study. Amongst the main findings concerning the relationship between the socio-anthropo1ogical variables and the anthropometric ones, was the fact that many combinations of the independent variables showed differences in measurements, as expected. At the same time, we found interrelationships among the independent variables: a) that better conditions of ISSE were related to few people in the household and with the category \"at least one foreigner\" of the variable Catances; the opposite was also true in relation to the category \"all Brazilians\"; b) we found indications of different fertility between the two categories of Catances. The higher were \"all Brazilians\". This category included a high percentage of Brazilians migrants from other States. We did not have sufficient information (if this is possible anyway), to state that the differences in the means of height and weight were due to socio-anthropological conditions, since they could be due to the tendency of more endogamous marriages between the migrants, that generally got into Santo André already married. We also found that the Kaup index did not measured what it is supposed to, at least in growing children, because of the relative variability of weight and height. Thus, it was suggested that a curve should be fitted having per base our empirical data, so that it could have meaning by each age. The means were tested by DUNCAN multiple range tests, and least aquares technique of analysis of variance. By this last test we get to know that despite of significant statistic influences of the independent variables (measured by weight and height) these influences varied depending on age, sex, eatances and the anthropometric variables, showing that the sample varied differently depending on age, sex and the controls used. But however important were the selected variables, there was still 2/3 of variability to be explained by other variables. For this matter, velocity curves based in this data should be taken carefully, once one cannot say children that are 2 year old in the sample, will be one year latter, exactly as the ones that are 3 years in the sample, or that theirs velocity of growth will be the same.

Com base em algumas variáveis sócio-antropológicas e três medidas antropométricas - altura, peso e índice de Kaup - de um Estudo realizado no Município de Santo André, elaboramos o presente trabalho. Para este trabalho excluímos crianças púberes, incluindo treze idades: O, 3, 6 e 9 meses, 1 ano, 1a e meio, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 e 8 anos, de ambos os sexos. As variáveis independentes utilizadas foram: ISSE - índice de situação sócio-econômica, construído com base na média de gasto mensal familiar per capita e segundo as 14 categorias de ocupação do pai e as de instrução. Considerou-se para tal, as interrelações das variáveis com o gasto, que foram tomadas como desvios em relação à média de gasto familiar per capita mensal da amostra e a média para cada casela, medidas como múl tiplos de T. CATANCES - construída a partir da informação sobre a nacionalidade dos ascendentes das crianças até a 3ª geração. Constitui-se de 2 categorias: \"todos ascendentes brasileiros\" e \"pelo menos um estrangeiro\". Grupo Residencial - dividido em três categorias: \"poucos\", \"médio\" e \"grande\", dependendo de quantas pessoas residissem na casa. Dado que já se conhecia a existência de uma relação positiva entre melhores condições de vida e desenvolvimento físico queríamos observar se isso se dava igualmente nos dois sexos e nas várias idades, e assim poder apreender diferenças entre esses grupos uma vez que só havia sido possível estratificar a amostra por idade e sexo. Essas interrelações ajudariam a melhor caracterizar a população estudada. Como esperado, encontramos uma associação positiva entre melhores condições sócio-econômicas, menor tamanho do grupo residencial e as médias das medidas. Porém, também verificamos a existência de relações entre as variáveis independentes: a) que a categoria de ISSE \"alto\" associava-se com a categoria \"pelo menos um estrangeiro\" da variável Catances, o inverso sendo verdadeiro quando a categoria era \"todos brasileiros\"; b) que, medido pelo tamanho médio do grupo residencial, há indicações de uma fecundidade diferencial, sendo esta maior para o grupo \"todos nacionais\" da variável Catances. Nesse sentido chamamos a atenção à grande concentração de migrantes de Minas e Nordeste nessa categoria. As médias das medidas foram testadas pelo método de ordenação de médias de DUNCAN, e também pela técnica de ajuste por mínimos quadrados para análises de variâncias. Verificamos ao analisar as tabelas das medidas, segundo os vários controles, que o índice de Kaup não se apresentava diferente de uma idade para outra, enquanto tal acontecia com altura e peso. Uma série de outros resultados somados a esse, evidenciou que o índice não media, ao menos para crianças em crescimento, aquilo que se propunha medir, ou seja, diferenças de estados nutricionais. Sugere-se então um ajuste de curva a fim de que, baseados nos dados empíricos, se encontre uma dada função para cada idade. Também constatou-se que embora as médias das medidas diferissem segundo as variáveis independentes, isso não acontecia igualmente nas mesmas idades e nos 2 sexos. Ainda, através dos resultados das análises de variância, observou-se que apesar das diferenças estatísticas significantes, as variáveis selecionadas explicavam muito pouco da variação das medidas nas várias idades e sexos. Esses resultados nos levaram a concluir que a amostra estudada, segundo as variáveis independentes deste estudo, difere entre idades em ambos os sexos. Isso levanta uma série de questões sobre quais as variáveis mais adequadas a um estudo desse gênero e sobre a utilização desses dados para construção de curvas de velocidade. Permitimo-nos sugerir que as tabelas por nós apresentadas no anexo 1, se consideradas as duas categorias de Catances, fossem consideradas como dois padrões: Leste-Nordeste e Sul, utilizando a idéia das tábuas de vida padrão. / The present dissertation was based in some of the data collected during the first semester of 1969, in the Município de Santo André, State of São Paulo, Brasil. The original data was partly constituted of several anthropometric measurements in 17 different ages of children from zero month onto twelve years. Some socio-economic information of their families and data concerning the country of birth (or the State of birth, if Brazilian) was also collected for three generations of the children\'s ancestors. The sample was based in the population of these ages living at the Município mentioned. The total sample was of 9,258 children, stratified by age and sex, so that one could estimate the degree of confidence of the actual sample. It is worthwhile to call attention to the criterium adopted to asses age, which was very strict, and not common in studies as such. Zero month children were measured on 2d or 3d day of life. From three to eighteen months, ± 7 days from the day of birth and from two to twelve years old, ± 14 days from the day of birth. For this study we choose only three of the measurements: height, weight and Kaup index and related them by age and sex, with three independent variables as follows: ISSE - index of socio-economic conditions, which was built considering the joint distribution of occupation and education of the father and the amount of the family expenses per capita, per month. CATANCES - meaning \"categories of ancestors\", divided into two categories: \"all ancestors were Brazilians\" and \"at least one was foreigner\". Residencial Group - (household). Depending of the size or the household, there were three different categories: \"small\", \"medium\" and \"large\". Our objectives were to study the relations between the socio-anthropological variables and the measurements selected. At the same time to have a better knowledge of the variability of the population, sampled by age and sex only. for our purposes we dealt only with 13 ages, from zero months to eight years old, excluding in this manner children entering puberty, after the definition of puberty adopted in the study. Amongst the main findings concerning the relationship between the socio-anthropo1ogical variables and the anthropometric ones, was the fact that many combinations of the independent variables showed differences in measurements, as expected. At the same time, we found interrelationships among the independent variables: a) that better conditions of ISSE were related to few people in the household and with the category \"at least one foreigner\" of the variable Catances; the opposite was also true in relation to the category \"all Brazilians\"; b) we found indications of different fertility between the two categories of Catances. The higher were \"all Brazilians\". This category included a high percentage of Brazilians migrants from other States. We did not have sufficient information (if this is possible anyway), to state that the differences in the means of height and weight were due to socio-anthropological conditions, since they could be due to the tendency of more endogamous marriages between the migrants, that generally got into Santo André already married. We also found that the Kaup index did not measured what it is supposed to, at least in growing children, because of the relative variability of weight and height. Thus, it was suggested that a curve should be fitted having per base our empirical data, so that it could have meaning by each age. The means were tested by DUNCAN multiple range tests, and least aquares technique of analysis of variance. By this last test we get to know that despite of significant statistic influences of the independent variables (measured by weight and height) these influences varied depending on age, sex, eatances and the anthropometric variables, showing that the sample varied differently depending on age, sex and the controls used. But however important were the selected variables, there was still 2/3 of variability to be explained by other variables. For this matter, velocity curves based in this data should be taken carefully, once one cannot say children that are 2 year old in the sample, will be one year latter, exactly as the ones that are 3 years in the sample, or that theirs velocity of growth will be the same.

La détermination de l'âge et du sexe à partir de restes osseux est une problématique essentielle en anthropologie biologique et en anthropologie médico-légale. Les moyens existants sont anciens et font l'objet de nombreuses critiques méthodologiques. Nous avons donc étudié 3 séries : notre série (inédite) de 782 fœtus, les ossements de la collection Fazekas et Kosa, ainsi que les restes fœtaux de la fouille archéologique de la Chapelle St Jean (Hautes-Alpes). Au moyen de différentes méthodes et tests méthodologiques que nous avons préalablement validés, nous avons d'une part démontré les grandes difficultés de la détermination du sexe fœtal, et nous avons d'autres part amélioré et fiabilisé les estimations de l'âge à partir d'une méthodologie originale utilisant la mesure radiographique des os longs. Ces résultats sont comparés aux moyens de détermination de l'âge classiquement utilisés par les anthropologues et nous permettent de confirmer la grande fiabilité de la méthode que nous avons établie.

Recent reports reveal that a centuries-long trend in mortality has reversed, with post-1980 rural populations now being vulnerable to higher death rates than urban areas (Cossman et al. 2010). Scholars have also documented a post-1980 “return migration” of urban African Americans returning to rural regions (Stack 1996, Falk et al. 2004). The purpose of this research was: 1) to determine if the high urban mortality from 1900 to 1979 is related to the mass migration of rural African Americans to northern cities; 2) to discern if the high rural mortality post-1980 is related to the return migration of African Americans to southern rural regions; and 3) to test whether or not holistic and interdisciplinary research which incorporates the Racial Context of Origins will reveal discrepancies when compared to life table analyses. While the post-1980 “return migration” of urban African Americans to rural regions is of interest to scholars, the lack of death data needed to study them is often non-existent, often resulting in the exclusion of these marginalized populations from research (Sattenspiel and Stoops 2010:7). In order to test the above hypotheses, a replicable methodology that incorporates Read and Emerson’s (2005) call for the incorporation of a new theoretical concept in data collection and analysis, the Racial Context of Origins, was formulated in order to extract mortality data from these and other minority populations when archival data seemingly does not exist. Relying upon a fusion of biological and cultural anthropology and genealogical methods, this study’s main objectives were: 1) to collect vital statistics from and reconstruct three cemeteries that represent rural, semi-rural, and urban African American populations from 1880-2010 in order to document the mortality profiles through the use of life table analyses; 2) to compile narrative genealogies and migration histories through various archival records, integrating the Racial Context of Origins, by focusing on a semi-rural cemetery which represents a spectrum of both rural and urban lifestyles; and 3) to compare and contrast the statistical mortality profiles with the narrative genealogies and histories. The rural and semi-rural cemetery’s reconstructed burial registers resulted in 122 narrative genealogies that collectively revealed a migratory pattern where the rural and semi-rural populations in Missouri moved to urban cities prior to 1980, later returning to rural areas post-1980, findings confirmed by the life tables. Although only a single ethnic group was studied, the results indicated that post-1980 high rural mortality was at least in part affected by African American migration. Incorporating a methodology that included the Racial Context of Origins to reconstruct records from which to extract data provided more, and better, data with which to work. The methodology used to reconstruct archival records increased the sample size by 85%. As a result, there were no discrepancies in the life tables because those data were extracted from the reconstructed records.