Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 G73 / Master of Science

Diagnosing the sex of subadult skeletal material is a difficult task for bioarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists. Metric and nonmetric techniques have been tested utilizing both fetal (Boucher 1957, Weaver 1980) and juvenile (Loth and Henneberg 2001, Weaver 1980) skeletal remains. Some metric techniques show promise in estimating the sex of juvenile skeletons, but most are found to be lacking in adequate accuracies (Holcomb and Konigsberg 1995, Weaver 1980). Nonmetric techniques have been found to be more accurate, performing better than chance (Loth and Henneberg 2001, Mittler and Sheridan 1992, Weaver 1980). This study adds to this conversation, utilizing the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, testing the accuracy of eight nonmetric traits of the subadult mandible and ilium for use in forensic investigations and bioarchaeological research. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Forensic anthropologists and archaeologists have been increasingly engaged, at police request, in investigations to locate and recover buried human remains ( Rodriguez and Bass, 1985 ; France et al., 1992 ; Owsley, 1995 ; Hunter et al., 1996 ). Current search methods are derived from archaeology, geology, botany, geography and taphonomy. However, there is limited testing of search techniques, particularly over graves containing human bodies, and few studies that have examined the appearance of gravesites over several years. In the absence of such studies in Australia, eight shallow burials ( six animal graves, two human graves ) and one calibration pit were established in South Australia to provide information about the physical properties of graves and the effectiveness of burial site location techniques. The findings provide descriptive information about the surface appearance of graves over six years, the chemical elements remaining in the upper levels of grave soil and the practical implications of using geophysical instruments to search for buried human remains in typical forensic cases in South Australian landscapes. Key surface indicators identified included ongoing faunal scavenging, soil surface differences, absence of moss, absence of vegetation in dry periods, the slow return of ground debris, and the formation of depressions. These were not all associated with the presence of a body but could be related to disturbance of the ground surface. There was a relationship between surface indicators and seasonal conditions and the position of the gravesites in relation to surrounding landscape features, in particular, trees. Higher levels of certain soil elements at the upper surface layer at the gravesites were identifiable after several years of burial ; in particular, calcium and magnesium were identifiable at the human body and kangaroo gravesites. Ground penetrating radar, electrical resistivity and electromagnetic induction were used to survey the gravesites. Ground penetrating radar provided the most significant results in terms of anomalies compared to the surrounds. However, use of these instruments highlighted the potential of overlooking gravesites due to lack of definitive survey data, the impact of seasonal conditions and the problems associated with using the instruments in some burial areas. Comparison of these findings is made with other international studies. Electrical resistivity surveying was successfully used to locate a 150 year old burial. A national survey on body location techniques used by police investigators in a seven year period was conducted, demonstrating a limited reported success in and use of search techniques other than ground search, implying a need to develop more reliable techniques for clandestine grave location. The results provide previously unavailable information about the surface appearance of gravesites, detectable elements in grave soil and the use of geophysical survey instruments for this purpose in South Australia. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Medical Sciences, Discipline of Anatomical Sciences, 2006.

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One of the first concerns for forensic anthropologists in dealing with skeletal remains in the Australian context is the determination of whether the remains are of anthropological, historical or archaeological interest. If fewer than 75 years have elapsed since death, remains are classified as anthropological and of forensic interest. However, an accurate and reliable method for estimating time since death (TSD) from human skeletal remains has thus far eluded forensic anthropologists. This study investigates the application in an Australian context of a novel approach proposed by Swift (2001) to dating skeletal remains from their contained levels of radioisotopes 210Po, 238U and 226Ra and trace elements. Radionuclide activity concentrations were determined using alpha and gamma spectrometry. Trace element concentrations were measured on three separate occasions using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Discriminant analysis of the combination of activity concentration values for 210Po, 238U and 226Ra indicated the possibility of separation of bones derived from individuals who had died in the three eras of interest. Additionally, variations in the concentration levels of specific trace elements and certain inter-element relationships between elements also showed significant correlations with TSD. The study could not be exhaustive as access to human skeletal material was limited and additionally, the archaeological material had a different origin and post-death history to material from the more recent past. However, trend lines for inter-relationships between specific metals and for radionuclides indicated that all material fitted the same generally projected trends and as such, inferences with respect to variations of trace elements and radionuclides could be made with confidence. Bone radionuclide activity and calcium concentrations were all significantly higher in bones from the archaeological era than those from more recent eras, while trace lead concentrations contained in samples from the more recent historical era were significantly higher than those from other eras. Barium, lanthanum, rubidium, strontium, cerium and neodymium concentrations were all significantly correlated with one another and with radionuclide activity concentrations. Differences were found between the patterns of radionuclide activity and trace element concentrations between the skull and femur. The results of this study lend support to suggestions that multivariate analysis of trace element concentrations and radionuclide activity levels could aid in the estimation of time since death from skeletal remains in Australia. Although this study made use of only a limited amount of material, results clearly indicated the need to take into account variations arising from lifetime activities, diagenesis and bone type in applying the techniques to estimations of time since death. It highlights the need for a large-scale study using bone of known ages that systematically examines these influences on the estimation of time since death.

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In the fall of 1999, human skeletal remains and historic artifacts were discovered on private farmland approximately two kilometres south of the Town of Battleford, Saskatchewan. Document searches and a ground-penetrating radar survey of the property resulted in the discovery that the land was once used as a cemetery for the Catholic Church of St. Vital during the years of 1879 to 1885. Numerous interest groups were brought together in the process of handling this sensitive situation, including the landowners, the Heritage Resource Branch of the Department of Saskatchewan Culture, Youth and Recreation, the Rural Municipality of Battle River, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert, and the Battleford Tribal Council. A decision was made to relocate the burials to the current town cemetery. In the meantime, permission was granted for the University of Saskatchewan to play the lead role in the excavation and analysis process. The partial and complete skeletal remains of thirty individuals were recovered, and in addition to a basic osteological analysis of the individuals that included sex determination, age at death and population affinity, a detailed assessment of the pathological conditions was also undertaken. The document and artifact analyses will be the subject of a separate thesis by Colette Hopkins.