Forensic STR analysis is limited by the quality and quantity of DNA. Significant damage or alteration to the molecular structure of DNA by depurination, crosslinking, base modification, and strand breakage can impact typing success. Two methods that could potentially improve STR typing of challenged samples were explored: an in vitro DNA repair assay (PreCR™ Repair Mix) and whole genome amplification. Results with the repair assay showed trends of improved performance of STR profiling of bleach-damaged DNA. However, the repair assay did not improve DNA profiles from environmentally-damaged bloodstains or bone, and in some cases resulted in lower RFU values for STR alleles. The extensive spectrum of DNA damage and myriad combinations of lesions that can be present in forensic samples appears to pose a challenge for the in vitro PreCR™ assay. The data suggest that the use of PreCR™ in casework should be considered with caution due to the assay’s varied results. As an alternative to repair, whole genome amplification (WGA) was pursued. The DOP-PCR method was selected for WGA because of initial primer design and greater efficacy for amplifying degraded samples. Several modifications of the original DOP-PCR primer were evaluated. These modifications allowed for an overall more robust amplification of damaged DNA from both contemporary and historical skeletal remains compared with that obtained by standard DNA typing and a previously described DOP-PCR method. These new DOP-PCR primers show promise for WGA of degraded DNA.

In the anthropological analysis of burned bone, the presence of a white heat line aids in determining a bone’s physical condition prior to burning, distinguishing between those burned fleshed or wet versus dry. However, while the relationship between this thermal signature and a bone’s physical condition has been studied, there is a lack of research concerning the chemical composition of white heat lines. The present study assessed the composition of white heat lines that form on burned bone using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with the potassium bromide (KBr) pellet method. The present study examined the effects of soft tissue and the retention of bone’s organic material, including naturally-occurring grease and water, on the development and appearance of a white heat line. Experimental remains consisted of isolated long bones from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), elk (Cervus canadensis), sheep (Ovis aries), and pig (Sus scrofa) in five physical conditions – fleshed (fresh bones with adhering soft tissue), very wet (recently defleshed bone, greasy), partially wet (defleshed, slight grease retention), dry (defleshed, naturally degreased), and soaked (formerly dry bone immersed in water). These bones were burned over a wood fire made within a 55-gallon drum. After a visual analysis to evaluate white heat line formation, chemical composition was analyzed by determining spectral peak heights of the carbonate (CO3) ν3 (1415 cm-1), phosphate (PO4) ν3 (1035 cm-1), and amide I (1660 cm-1) vibrational bands. These thermal signatures appear to form superficially, measuring approximately 1.5 mm in depth. Results indicate that white heat lines that formed on fleshed bone contain an increased amount of CO3, PO4, and amide I in comparison to their unburned controls, while those that formed on very wet bone contain decreased amounts instead. These findings further our knowledge of how fire modifies physical remains and the effect that bone’s physical condition prior to burning has on the development of a white heat line and the resulting compositional changes. In order to build upon the results gained from the present study, continuing research is needed to investigate compositional differences between white heat lines that form on fleshed versus very wet bone and to assess bone’s fat content as a possible contributing factor. Additional FTIR research is needed to assess the other vibrational bands of CO3, PO4, and amide that are present in bone.

There is an ongoing debate concerning the nature of warfare and violence in the Iron Age of Britain. Interpretations regarding material remains from this period fluctuate between classifying instruments of violence (i.e. swords, spears, hillforts) as functional tools of war and as ritual symbolic devices. Human skeletal remains provide the most unequivocal evidence for violent encounters, but were often missing from these debates in the past. This thesis addresses this lack of treatment by analyzing the patterns of traumatic injuries at sites from two distinct regions in Iron Age Britain (East Yorkshire and Hampshire). The human remains from these sites show clear markers of interpersonal violence. When the remains are placed in context with the mortuary treatment, it is evident that violence and ritual were inextricably linked. In East Yorkshire, combat may have been ritualized through duelling and competition performance. In Hampshire, individuals with perimortem injures are often found in special deposits such as pits, ditches and domestic areas, suggesting their use in ritual processes that distinguish them from the general population. This provides a basis for understanding warfare and violence during the Iron Age of Britain and how communities negotiated the social tensions caused by violent interactions.

The Earliest Human Remains of Northern Perú: Balances and PerspectivesGenerally in American prehistory the very first protagonists have been kept outside of the main discourse. This absence of information is evident if we review the construction of this history and accept that there has been a preconceived pact of indifference towards skeletal remains. The north of Peru is a good example and choice for the objectives of this paper. Given this lack of information, we present our findings about these "lost" bodies in order to finally integrate these data into the study of the earliest people of the Americas. / De manera genérica, la prehistoria americana ha mantenido fuera de su discurso a los restos de sus propios protagonistas. Semejante afirmación adquiere sentido si observamos la confección de esta historia pasada y aceptamos una cierta indiferencia pactada hacia los restos óseos. El norte peruano resulta un buen ejemplo y compromiso de intereses encontrados. Con este trabajo se busca cómo entender esta ausencia, encontrar los cuerpos "ausentes" y finalmente integrarlos al acervo de los materiales de estos primeros grupos humanos.

Wandering Bones. Tafonomy and Funerary Treatment in Mochica Tombs at San José de MoroThe focus of this study is a sample of human burials from the Precolumbian archaeological site of San José de Moro, Peru. This site is located in the coastal desert of northern Peru and this sample dates to the latter half of the Moche period (450 AD-750 AD). Many of the burials from this site demonstrate various degrees of disarticulation. Stratigraphic analysis has demonstrated that this disturbance cannot be the product of post-depositional forces. An analysis of the distribution of the bones within the tombs, and a review of the process of corporeal decomposition suggests that the disturbance happened before the bodies were placed in their tombs. The results indicate that the cadavers were wholly or partially mummified before burial, and that disarticulation ocurred as the brittle, mummified body was maneuvered into the tomb. The body was mummified either as a deliberate measure before transporting the corpse over long distances, or as a natural product of the curation of the body above ground in a dry environment, during an extended funeral ritual. This combination of archaeological and forensic analysis has yielded important insights into the burial practices of the Moche. / El presente artículo trata sobre una muestra de entierros humanos del sitio arqueológico precolombino de San José de Moro. Este se encuentra en el desierto costero del norte del país y la muestra data de la última mitad del período mochica (450 AD-750 AD). Muchos de estos entierros muestran varios grados de desarticulación. El análisis estratigráfico ha demostrado que esta disturbación no pudo ser producto de fuerzas post-deposicionales. Más aún, el análisis en la distribución de los huesos dentro de las tumbas y una revisión del proceso de descomposición corporal sugieren que esta disturbación se llevó a cabo antes de que los cuerpos fueran colocados en sus tumbas. Los resultados indican que los cadáveres fueron total o parcialmente momificados antes del entierro y que la desarticulación ocurrió cuando el cuerpo, momificado y frágil, fue colocado dentro de la tumba. El cuerpo fue momificado tanto como una medida deliberada antes del transporte del cadáver a través de largas distancias y como resultado natural de curación del cuerpo sobre la tierra en un ambiente seco durante un ritual funerario prolongado. Esta combinación de análisis arqueológico y forense ha producido nuevos e importantes datos acerca de las prácticas funerarias mochicas.

The primary objectives of this project were: 1. to develop improved methods for extraction of DNA from human skeletal remains, 2. to improve STR profiling success of low-copy DNA samples by employing whole genome amplification to amplify the total pool of DNA prior to STR analysis, and 3. to improve STR profiling success of damaged DNA templates by using DNA repair enzymes to reduce the number/severity of lesions that interfere with STR profiling. The data from this study support the following conclusions. Inhibitory compounds must be removed prior to enzymatic amplification; either during bone section pretreatment or by the DNA extraction method. Overall, bleach outperformed UV as a pretreatment and DNA extraction using silica outperformed microconcentration and organic extraction. DNA repair with PreCR™ A outperformed both whole genome amplification and repair with PreCR™ T6. Superior DNA extraction results were achieved using the A6 PMB columns (20 ml capacity column with 6 layers of type A glass fiber filter), and DNA repair with PreCR™ A led to an overall improvement in profile quality in most cases, although whole genome amplification was unsuccessful. Rapid, robust DNA isolation, successful amplification of loci from the sample-derived DNA pool, and an elimination of DNA damage and inhibitors may assist in providing sufficient genetic information from cases that might otherwise lie on the fringe of what is possible to obtain today.

Where are the Late Pleistocene Human Remains? Problems and Perspectives in the Search for the First AmericansVery few, if any, reliable human skeletal remains have been recovered for the late Pleistocene period (before 10.000 B. P.) in South America. They all have problems of context, association, and/or radiocarbon dating. The same is true for the early human record in North America. This dilemma is discussed in terms of 1) archaeological visibility and sampling, 2) other biases affecting the record, 3) mortuary patterns of early hunter-gatherers groups that elude archaeological discovery, and 4) possible solutions to resolve the problem. / En Sudamérica se conocen pocos restos óseos humanos confiables que supuestamente pertenecieron al Pleistoceno Tardío (antes de 10.000 A.P.). Todos ellos tienen problemas de contexto, asociación y/o fechado radiocarbónico. Lo mismo ocurre con el registro humano temprano de Norteamérica. Este problema se discute en términos de 1) visibilidad arqueológica y muestreo, 2) tendencias de estudio variables que afectan el registro, 3) patrones funerarios de los grupos de cazadores-recolectores tempranos que eluden el estudio arqueológico, y 4) soluciones posibles para resolver el problema.

No description available.

Positive identification of a deceased individual is one of the major aspects of modem forensic death investigations. Incomplete or fragmented skeletal remains pose a problem for identification because the normal methods forensic anthropologists employ for compiling a biological profile of the decedent are of no use. Ancestry is an important aspect of the biological profile that, when known, can help narrow the focus of investigations by excluding many individuals from the search scope. This thesis describes molecular genetic methods which can be used to estimate ancestry in order to aid in forensic identification when other methods fail. The Y chromosome is one aspect of the genome shown to contain markers which are associated with the geographical origins of its possessor. The laboratory aspect of this research involved taking bone samples from humerii, extracting DNA from these samples and then sequencing a number of Y-SNPs in order to predict the biogeographical origins of each sample. Performing this research demonstrated the steps involved in this type of genetic ancestral analysis. At present, anthropology can only distinguish between major population groups. However, as research continues to be performed, the discriminatory power of molecular genetic ancestral analyses such as this has the potential to be further refined so that sub-populations may be distinguished between. This could be of great value if introduced into the forensic community.

no / Osteosarcoma is a rare type of malignant neoplasm that is most frequent in adolescents and young adults although it can develop at any age. It can metastasize from a primary site in bone to other bones and soft tissues. Usually the disorder causes a single bone-forming lesion (unicentric) but some cases have multicentric, bone-forming lesions. Some of these lesions develop at different sites at different times. In a second variant of multicentric osteosarcoma, synchronous bone-forming lesions develop at multiple sites. Distinguishing between these two types of multicentric osteosarcoma is challenging in a clinical context and the criteria for doing so are unlikely to be met in an archaeological burial. Wolverhampton burial HB 39 was excavated from an early-nineteenth century cemetery site in England. It consists of the incomplete skeleton of an adult male of at least 45 years of age with multicentric osteosarcoma. The individual represented by this burial also had diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Three of the bone-forming lesions associated with osteosarcoma developed on the bony outgrowths related to DISH.