Thesis (MSc.(Anatomy)--Faculty of Health Sciences)-University of Pretoria, 2008. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Anthropology, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on July 2, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 145-166). Also issued in print.

Thesis (M.A.)--Texas State University--San Marcos, 2009. / Vita. Appendices: leaves 40-61. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-66). Also available on microfilm.

Thesis (M.A.)--Texas State University--San Marcos, 2009. / Vita. Appendices: leaves 51-76. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-82). Also available on microfilm.

Thesis (M.A.)--Texas State University--San Marcos, 2009. / Vita. Appendix: leaves 28-40. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-43). Also available on microfilm.

Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2005. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Feb. 2, 2006). Thesis advisor: Lee Meadows Jantz. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Age-at-death estimation is a key component of creating a biological profile in forensic and bioarchaeological contexts, and the development of methods that utilize different skeletal elements or observe traits in a new manner are an important part of progress in the study of forensic anthropology. Use of the acetabulum for identifying age-at-death is among new methods being developed, and the recently published method by Calce (2012) was the focus of the present study. The present author analyzed a sample of 489 modern American individuals drawn from the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection housed at the University of Tennessee and assigned each individual to a phase described by Calce (2012). The results of the present study show that use of this method correctly classified age-at-death 62.2% of the time. The performance of this method is low compared to the results of the initial study where Calce (2012) found the method to be 81% accurate. This suggests that the acetabulum is not as beneficial as an age-at-death indicator as previously considered, and that more research on the utility of the acetabulum as an age indicator is required.

Ancestry estimation for Hispanic Americans is increasing in importance as this minority population increases in the United States. Hispanics are historically an admixture of various geographic populations including European, Native American, and African. This combination of genes has caused many intermediate skeletal features that make identification of Hispanics a complicated process, especially when compared to Native Americans. "Hispanic" cannot efficiently encompass, as a term, the genotypic composition of multiple populations, as Hispanics from the Southwestern United States are historically a combination of Native American and European genes, whereas those from the Caribbean are historically an admixture of Native American, European, and African genes. While each of these regions can exhibit a certain combination of all three of these ancestral populations, each region has experienced a characteristic frequency of admixture. Southwest Hispanic populations are genotypically and phenotypically primarily comprised of Native American and European genes, resulting in an intermediate skeletal composition that prevents the distinct ancestry discrimination attainable by broad geographic groups. Previous dental morphological studies (Edgar 2013) have also presented results of intermediacy and particular difficulty separating these individuals from Native American and Asian groups; however, metric studies of the dentition of this population have yet to be investigated. Data were collected from n=569 dental casts from the James K. Economides collection which is housed at the Maxwell Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Measurements included were the mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions of the polar teeth of the morphogenetic field theory and the width and depth of the mandibular and maxillary arches. The morphogenetic field theory, as developed by Butler (1939) and adapted by Dahlberg (1945), represent the most stable teeth of the four fields of the dentition - incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. These "polar" teeth exhibit the least variation in crown size and shape. Significant differences were identified between ancestry groups and these were subsequently used to identify allocation rates between all groups and between particular sets, or groups, of ancestries. Discriminant function equations were developed as a tool for ancestry estimation. Success was greatest when both dental crown and arcade variables were pooled together in an analysis. Results of this study indicate odontometric analyses are useful in differentiating between Native Americans and European Americans, with classification rates ranging between 75.2% and 86.3%; however, much work must be conducted before application on Hispanic populations is possible. The Southwest Hispanic population exhibited greater phenotypic similarity to the European American population and had significantly lower success in allocation than between Southwest Hispanics and Native Americans. In cases where sex was known, successful allocation decreased, although females generally exhibited greater success than males. Potential utility is observed in this study when sex is unknown, and the development of a statistical methodology utilizing the dentition is proposed.

Multi-isotopic approaches have been used effectively to help provide estimated geographic origins for unidentified skeletal remains in cold case homicides and archaeological contexts, when DNA testing was not practical. Stable oxygen and strontium isotopes were used in the present study in order to determine their effectiveness of proveniencing human remains from Colombia and New England. Enamel hydroxyapatite was extracted from individual teeth (n=151) from individuals with known birthplaces for different regions of Colombia as well as the region of New England in the United States. All oxygen data is presented as a ratio of δ18O /δ16O (‰PDB). The results show significant geographical differences (p ≤ 0.001), between the Colombian and New England populations. The mean δ18O value for Colombia is -11.06 ± 1.28. The mean 87Sr/86Sr value for Colombia is 0.707391 ± 0.0016. The mean δ18O value of the samples from the United States is -7.42 ± 1.39. The mean 87Sr/86Sr value for the samples from the United States is 0.7099747 ± 0.0011. The oxygen and strontium ratios of the sample set have no significant differences within each geographic region. Additionally, a small subset of the immigrant community in Boston, MA is represented within the sample. There is a significant difference (p ≤ 0.002) in the population’s mean δ18O values. The establishment of this oxygen and strontium isoscape has the potential to provenience unidentified human remains recovered as a result of Colombia’s long-term internal conflict.

In forensic contexts, eliminating the ability for identification and/or discovery of victims is a priority for many individuals perpetrating a homicide. This can be achieved in a number of ways, but a common belief is that acidic products can accomplish both. The current study submerged twelve complete pig (Sus scrofa) heads in three different commercial products containing hydrochloric or sulfuric acid (n=4 for each product) in order to determine if complete liquefaction was possible. The product with 31.45% concentration of hydrochloric acid was able to liquefy each head in five days. Motor vehicle battery acid (37% concentration of sulfuric acid) was able to liquefy each head in five weeks. The product with the low concentration (5 – 10%) of hydrochloric acid was not able to remove the soft tissue, but did affect the structure and consistency of the bones and teeth. Some common chemicals therefore are effective tools in body disposal.