Human Identification and
Osteobiographies
Steps of Identification
Background Recovery of remains Laboratory analysis
Research and reconciliation
Oral sources Locating Primary
Written sources Mapping identification
Videos Documenting markers
Pictures Retrieving Secondary
Collecting identification
antemortem data markers
(before death) – Comparison
social media, etc between.
Antemortem and
postmortem data
For example, in a plane crash you can use family & witnesses, passport
details and passenger list to identify how many people were on the plane
and information about them like age and gender.
Antemortem and postmortem data
Family & witnesses
Dental and medical records (including radiographic images)
Fingerprint (useful however not useful if only a skeleton)
DNA (useful however depending on how much of the body is
degraded will depend on how good the DNA is)
Personal item data such as jewellery and clothes (lots of
people have the same clothes and jewellery so it’s not
personal to you, also you could give it to someone else)
Other identification, e.g., tattoos, medical implants, passport
details, passenger lists.
Primary Identifiers
Need to have at least one of these to have a positive
identification:
Odontology – teeth, such as fillings, as will have traces of
filling on certain parts
Ridgeology – i.e., finger and footprints
DNA – useful tool but be careful with it
DNA analysis
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller milliegrace. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.