Papers by Sean Dale Tallman
Humans, 2024
Over the years, the field of forensic anthropology has become more diverse, bringing unique persp... more Over the years, the field of forensic anthropology has become more diverse, bringing unique perspectives to a previously homogeneous field. This diversification has been accompanied by recognizing the need for advocacy and activism in an effort to support the communities we serve: marginalized communities that are often overrepresented in the forensic population. As such, forensic anthropologists see the downstream effects of colonialism, white supremacy, inequitable policies, racism, poverty, homophobia, transphobia, gun violence, and misogyny. Some argue that advocacy and activism have no place in forensic anthropological praxis. The counterarguments for engaging in advocacy and activism uphold white, heterosexual, cisgender, and ableist privilege by arguing that perceived objectivity and unbiased perspectives are more important than personally biasing experiences and positionality that supposedly jeopardize the science and expert testimony. Advocacy and activism, however, are not new to the practice of anthropology. Whether through sociocultural anthropology, archaeology, or other areas of biological anthropology, activism and advocacy play an important role, using both the scientific method and community engagement. Using a North American approach, we detail the scope of the issues, address how advocacy and activism are perceived in the wider discipline of anthropology, and define ways in which advocacy and activism can be utilized more broadly in the areas of casework, research, and education.
Forensic Imaging, 2024
Assigned sex estimation via the greater sciatic notch (GSN) is traditionally performed via physic... more Assigned sex estimation via the greater sciatic notch (GSN) is traditionally performed via physical/visual examination and ordinal scoring; however, this relies on the subjective assessment of morphology for typological classification which may not be reflective of human variation. Three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetry may offer a technologically advanced, low cost, and more objective alternative to assess the complex curvature of anatomical landmarks. This research explores the accuracy of photogrammetry derived 3D models by comparing digital measurements to those obtained from the skeletal elements and to streamline the application of curvature analysis for the estimation of assigned sex from the GSN. This study utilizes the left and right os coxae from 15 skeletal individuals (5 females, 10 males) from the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. A Fujifilm X-Pro2 and Fujifilm 35 mm prime lens captured 123 images per element, which were processed in Meshroom by AliceVision® to create a 3D textured mesh. The mesh was exported into Blender for cleanup, scaling, measurement, and curvature analysis. The measurements were between 96.54 % and 99.94 % consistent across methods and observations. The consistency between digital metric observations increased by an average of 0.07 % when compared to the consistency of the dry bone measurements. Additionally, curvature analysis of the GSN correctly estimated the assigned sex of all os coxae in the sample. This study demonstrates that photogrammetry is an accurate and reliable method for the digitization of remains that enables analytical techniques to better capture skeletal variation compared to traditional methods.
The ability to accurately estimate the ancestry of skeletonized remains is vital to forensic anth... more The ability to accurately estimate the ancestry of skeletonized remains is vital to forensic anthropologists. Several methods have been developed to assist in the estimation of ancestry, and one such method is through the analysis of nonmetric cranial trait expression (Bass 2005; Brues 1990; Gill 1998; Hefner 2009; Rhine 1990). However, ancestry estimation methods are not free of problems. For example, one issue that arises with ancestry estimation is that the methods used to assess ancestry were predominately developed on African and European populations (Tallman 2016). This can generally be attributed to the lack of ancestral variation within skeletal collections throughout North America. As a result, methods for estimating ancestry have not been extensively developed for minority populations. In particular, pre-contact Native Americans have traditionally served as a biological reference for identifying modern Asian individuals due to their distantly shared genetic history (Bass 2...
American Anthropologist, 2022
American Anthropologist, 2022
As with all scientific and academic disciplines, forensic anthropology upholds numerous barriers ... more As with all scientific and academic disciplines, forensic anthropology upholds numerous barriers to entry and challenges to retention. Due to the field's homogeneity, lack of self-criticality, and maintenance of the status quo, many of these barriers remain unchecked, underdiscussed, and ultimately unchallenged. For example, the majority of nondisabled, neurotypical, cisgender, heterosexual white practitioners have faced relatively few barriers to success compared to those from systematically excluded groups. Thus, many may be wholly unaware of the inequitable challenges faced by individuals with marginalized identities, no matter how well-intentioned individuals from the majority may be. Moreover, many who have faced-or posed-barriers often consider such challenges to be an inherent and expected aspect that comes with the territory of participating in a highly competitive field like forensic anthropology. With their bereavements unrecorded, those that elect to leave the field due to the emotional and psychological stresses associated with academic hazing, harassment, discrimination, and ongoing marginalization are deemed inadequate by the remaining majority simply because they were unable to withstand the challenges. Accordingly, the remaining majority neglects to consider the inequitable structures that failed those that left and, instead, they rationalize attrition based on their personal challenges that they overcame. This problematic framing-that normalizes barriers and fails to address inequitable challenges while situating those that leave as "shedding the weak"-has led to uninformed professionals in positions of power, as well as superficial approaches to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion. Without understanding the lived experiences of individuals from systematically excluded groups and the barriers to entry and success that they face, forensic anthropology will continue to marginalize, other, and expunge those who do not fit the majority mold. This piece, coauthored by ten anthropologists who inhabit diverse and intersectional identities from systematically excluded groups, highlights some of the major barriers to success that we have faced throughout our educational and professional experiences. We contend that positionality is important in forensic anthropology as it both enables and constrains individual successes and, for many of us, informs our scholarship, pedagogy, and practice. That is, we cannot divorce our identities from our engagement with (forensic) anthropology, nor should we try, and this confers significant benefits to the field. We started this process by each writing personal narratives on the barriers that we have encountered throughout our forensic anthropology trajectories. Subsequently, we met virtually on several occasions to discuss these experiences, which identified twelve thematic barriers. While in no way exhaustive or solely restricted to forensic
American Anthropologist, 2022
Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences, Third Edition, 2023
This article was originally published in the Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences, Third Edition pub... more This article was originally published in the Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences, Third Edition published by Elsevier, and the attached copy is provided by Elsevier for the author's benefit and for the benefit of the author's institution, for non-commercial research and educational use, including without limitation, use in instruction at your institution, sending it to specific colleagues who you know, and providing a copy to your institution's administrator.
Forensic Imaging, 2023
Accurate age-at-death (AAD) estimation is integral in establishing biological profiles in forensi... more Accurate age-at-death (AAD) estimation is integral in establishing biological profiles in forensic anthropology, though standardized multivariate techniques are lacking. The current study developed and tested a threedimensional convolutional neural network and three model variations with 1,224 de-identified cranial CT scans from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database. Each model required an input of an individual's cranial CT scan and outputted an AAD estimation. Model 3 was superior, successfully predicting AAD within 1.5 decades.
Forensic Anthropology, 2019
Biology
Frontal sinus variation has been used in forensic anthropology to aid in positive identification ... more Frontal sinus variation has been used in forensic anthropology to aid in positive identification since the 1920s. As imaging technology has evolved, so has the quality and quantity of data that practitioners can collect. This study examined frontal sinus morphological and dimensional variation on computed tomography (CT) scans in 325 individuals for assigned sex females and males from African-, Asian-, European-, and Latin American-derived groups. Full coronal sinus outlines from medically derived CT images were transferred into SHAPE v1.3 for elliptical Fourier analysis (EFA). The dimensional data were measured directly from the images using the MicroDicom viewer. Statistical analyses—Pearson’s chi-square, ANOVA, and Tukey post hoc tests—were run in R Studio. Results indicated that 3.7% lacked a frontal sinus and 12.0% had a unilateral sinus, usually on the left (74.3%). Additionally, no statistically significant morphological clustering using EFA was found based on assigned sex an...
Forensic Sciences
Methods for estimating assigned, binary sex at birth from skeletonized remains have primarily bee... more Methods for estimating assigned, binary sex at birth from skeletonized remains have primarily been developed for specific population groups in the U.S. (e.g., African American, European American, Hispanic) and, thus, inherently rely on ancestry estimation as a foundational component for constructing the biological profile. However, ongoing discussions in forensic anthropology highlight pressing issues with ancestry estimation practices. Therefore, this research provides population-inclusive assigned-sex estimation models for cases where ancestry is not estimated or is truly unknown. The study sample (n = 431) includes 3D volume-rendered skull computed tomography scans from the novel New Mexico Decedent Image Database of African, Asian, European, Latin, and Native Americans. Five standard nonmetric traits were scored, and eighteen standard measurements were obtained. Binary logistic regressions and discriminant function analyses were employed to produce models and classification accu...
Forensic Anthropology, 2021
Due to disproportionate violence impacting the transgender community, forensic anthropologists ma... more Due to disproportionate violence impacting the transgender community, forensic anthropologists may encounter the remains of trans individuals; however, it is unknown how often trans individuals are represented in casework and if practitioners have sufficient knowledge about trans bodies. After contextualizing forensically relevant demographics for the trans community, this study uses survey data of forensic anthropologists to critically explore the collective knowledge of and experience working with trans individuals; practitioners’ perceptions of sex and gender; and potential opportunities for trans-oriented research. The results indicate that 28.9% of respondents have worked with trans individuals in casework, but most forensic anthropologists were unfamiliar with forms and evidence of gender affirming procedures. Additionally, the survey indicates that forensic anthropologists struggle with the binary nature of forensic sex estimation, with 42.4% agreeing that sex is binary and 5...
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2021
The use of skeletal pathologies in establishing positive identifications via radiographic compari... more The use of skeletal pathologies in establishing positive identifications via radiographic comparison is often avoided-and thus understudied-due to the dynamic nature of the skeleton in response to pathological conditions. Using an online survey, this study tests the accuracy of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), a relatively common vertebral pathology, in making positive identifications through radiographic comparison. Three digital radiographic images from 51 DISH-positive individuals were obtained from the Boston Medical Center: one image taken at a baseline date (Group A), one image taken within 2 years from baseline (Group B), and one image taken greater than 4.5 years from baseline (Group C). Survey participants were tasked with comparing between simulated lateral "antemortem" and "postmortem" images from living patients and identifying which pair represented the same individual at different time intervals. A total of 40 responses were recorded and analyzed by measuring accuracies, sensitivities, and specificities. Information about survey participants' field, degree, experience working with radiographs, and familiarity with DISH was also recorded. Series 1 compared Group A to Group B images and resulted in an accuracy of 87.3%, sensitivity of 46.9%, and specificity of 94.3%. Series 2 compared Group A to Group C images and resulted in an accuracy of 83.4%, sensitivity of 34.3%, and specificity of 95.8%. The results indicate that the progressive changes associated with DISH render the condition unreliable for making positive identifications but suggest that DISH could be used to winnow potential matches.
Homo : internationale Zeitschrift fur die vergleichende Forschung am Menschen, 2021
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability among aging adults. In the U.S., many indivi... more Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability among aging adults. In the U.S., many individuals living with total hip replacements attribute OA as the cause. However, the majority of anthropological OA research excludes pathological individuals (i.e., individuals with systemic disease, traumatic injuries, or orthopedic devices). Thus, little is known about how implants and pathological conditions impact OA beyond a general acceptance that they likely increase OA risk. This study adds to the skeletal research surrounding OA by directly investigating its relationship with age, disease, and implants. The proximal femora of 186 African- and European-American individuals (21-95 years old) from the Edmonds Orthopedic Pathology Collection (National Museum of Health and Medicine; Armed Forces Institute of Pathology) were analyzed. The individuals were grouped into three cohorts: disease; non-disease; and previous injury/implant. Jurmain's (1990) ordinal scoring method was used to...
Forensic Anthropology, 2021
Mentorship can be defined as the person-to-person transmission of knowledge in a domain where one... more Mentorship can be defined as the person-to-person transmission of knowledge in a domain where one person has more experience than the other. Formal mentorship programs and awards have recently been implemented in the field of forensic anthropology, but the attitudes of forensic anthropologists toward mentors, protégés, and mentorship experiences have not been systematically explored. This study surveyed a sample of 123 forensic anthropology practitioners and students via 23 multiple-choice and 12 open-answer questions regarding their demographic information, opinions about mentorship, and experiences as both mentors and protégés. Results indicated that forensic anthropologists value both traditional, “top-down” mentorship interactions and “horizontal” peer-to-peer relationships with multiple mentors. Respondents emphasized the career and professionalism advice they received from their mentors, though some wished for additional guidance in social interactions and social issues. Demog...
Forensic Anthropology, 2021
Forensic anthropologists traditionally estimate “race” or “ancestry” as part of the biological pr... more Forensic anthropologists traditionally estimate “race” or “ancestry” as part of the biological profile. While practitioners may have changed the terms used to describe regionally patterned human skeletal variation, the degree to which they have altered their typological approaches remains unclear. This study analyzed 119 peer-reviewed forensic anthropology articles published in four relevant journals (1966–2020) by matching combination(s) of the key words “race,” “ancestry,” “ethnicity,” and/or “population affinity.” Results indicated that while “ancestry” has supplanted “race,” this change has not brought concurrent modifications in approach, nor deeper scrutiny of underlying concepts. “Race” and “ancestry” were infrequently defined in 13% and 12% of sampled articles, respectively, and a plethora of social, geographic, and pseudoscientific terms persisted. Forensic anthropologists increasingly engaged with questions addressing the forces patterning human biological variation: 65% o...
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Papers by Sean Dale Tallman
used in forensic anthropology and bioarcheology
were derived from individuals of European and
African descent and ancient Native Americans.
However, it is unlikely that these standards can
be accurately applied to modern Asian populations.
Due to different population histories, it is
hypothesized that ancient Native American and
modern Thai individuals are metrically distinct.
This study investigates the metric differences
in sexual dimorphism between 102 Native
American (American Museum of Natural History)
and 100 modern Thai (Khon Kaen University) individuals
17 to 97 years of age. A total of 26 cranial
and 57 postcranial measurements were tested in
Spradley and Jantz’s (2011) American Black and
White sex determination equations to see how
equations derived from non-Asian populations
perform on Native American and Thai individuals,
and to ascertain if population differences exist in
the expression of sexual dimorphism.
Using logistic regression equations and discriminant
function analyses – quasi-ordinary least
squares, the Native American and Thai groups
are significantly different in the expression
of sexual dimorphism. Further, Spradley and
Jantz’s (2011) equations often fail to correctly
classify Native American and Thai individuals.
Particularly, the equations derived from American
Black and White individuals frequently classified
modern Thai and Native American males
as females. Conversely, three American White
equations and eight American Black equations
classified more females as males for both populations.
Therefore, the metric sex determination
methods developed on non-Asian populations do
not adequately classify Native American and Thai
individuals, which reiterates the importance of
the population-specific equations presented here.
component of archaeological and forensic investigations.
Bone growth at tendon insertion sites, or
enthesophytes, have been researched as individualizing
musculoskeletal stress markers and were
previously shown to relate to age, body mass, and
possibly occupation; however, no such research
exists regarding ancestral correlations. Research
shows that African American bone density is
significantly higher than other ancestral groups;
thus, it is hypothesized that African Americans
have a higher tendency for additional bone
growth in relation to age, body mass, and occupation.
To test this hypothesis, 230 individuals from
the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection
at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, were
analyzed following previously established and
revised standards for scoring enthesophyte
development in the upper and lower limbs. The
individuals were of European American (n=176)
and African American (n=54) ancestry, and were
scored at random for enthesophyte development
before reviewing demographic information. Each
tendon insertion site was compared to the demographic
information and ancestral origin of the
individuals. The results confirm the expected link
between enthesophyte development with age
and body mass, while additional comparisons
of the scores display a possibility that African
Americans to display greater bone development
at tendon insertion sites. Further, upper
limb scores displayed stronger correlations with
demographic information than the lower limb,
providing a better focus for future research. The
correlation of enthesophyte development with
demographic information may aid in anthropological
investigations, providing an additional
method for individualization and identification of
biomechanical stresses in skeletal remains.
between vertebral osteoporosis, spondylolysis,
Schmorl’s nodes, vertebral osteoarthritis, osteophytosis,
and laminal spurs. Further, this study
examines the effects of sex, age, ancestry, and
occupation on the vertebral pathologies. A total
of 238 individuals (54 African Americans and 184
randomly selected European Americans) from
the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection
at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, were
analyzed. Vertebral pathologies and anomalies
were assessed using visual morphometric
scoring methods outlined in previous research.
It is hypothesized that positive correlations
exist between osteoporosis and other vertebral
pathologies and a positive correlation exists
between vertebral pathologies and strenuous
occupations. It is also hypothesized that there is
a difference in the prevalence of vertebral pathologies
between European American and African
American ancestries due to African Americans
generally showing higher bone mineral density
than European Americans. The results of this
research demonstrate numerous relationships:
males are correlated with osteoarthritis, and
Schmorl’s nodes, while females correlated with
spondylolisthesis (p-value of 0.001); European
Americans are correlated with osteophytosis,
Schmorl’s nodes, and laminal spurs, while African
Americans correlated with osteoarthritis; individuals
40 years or older are correlated with
osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, Schmorl’s nodes,
osteophytosis, and laminal spurs; and lastly, labor
intensive occupations (for example, a construction
worker) are correlated with osteoporosis,
osteoarthritis, osteophytosis, Schmorl’s nodes,
and laminal spurs, with all p-values less than
0.05. This research demonstrates how pathological
conditions correlate with sociodemographic
risk factors, which can help with the identification
process of skeletal remains in an archaeological
and forensic frameworks.
cause of death in the U.S. As treatments for
cancer are rapidly changing, it is vital to understand
how these medications affect the human
skeleton. Presently, little research has been
conducted on how medications alter the skeleton
and impact the biological profile. One of the
primary side effects of drug-based treatments
is cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL),
which may impact the expression of sexual
dimorphism. It is hypothesized that CTIBL will
decrease the robusticity of sexually dimorphic
nonmetric traits, and skew the ordinal scores
towards gracile. A total of 178 individuals with
documented cancer and/or treatment and 178
individuals without documented cancer from
the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection
at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, were
assessed following conventional standards for
the skull and os coxa. The individuals ranged
in age from 26 to 97 years and included 350
European Americans, two African Americans, one
Asian/Polynesian, and three Native Americans.
IBM’s Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS) calculated Chi-Square and ANOVA analyses.
The results indicate no relationship between
cancer treatment status and the trait scores (p >
0.05). Possible confounders of the study include
the unknown duration of cancer treatments and
the assumption that the individuals included
in the sample were accurately documented.
Though CTIBL does not appear to affect morphological
sex assessment, further research should
be conducted on the possible effects of CTIBL for
other components of the biological profile.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by illustrating that a greater degree of classification beyond Hispanic may be possible using geometric morphometric methods that provide a statistically grounded model to differentiate two Hispanic populations.
In contexts such as natural disasters, humanitarian efforts, and forensic investigations, the timely and accurate development of the biological profile is vital to the identification of decedents. An essential but problematic aspect of the biological profile is the estimation of ancestry. Geometric morphometric analyses are germane to forensic ancestry estimation because they employ a statistically sound approach, derived from W.W. Howells’ well-defined landmarks that focus on craniometric shape differences independent of size; however, many of the current methods pose a challenge because the term “Hispanic” is frequently utilized to represent world-wide Hispanic populations with the untested assumption that all individuals from North, South, and Central America, and the Caribbean are skeletally homogenous.1-3 Additionally, comprehensive studies of Hispanic populations are severely limited due to the lack of robust reference data. The continued use of unrefined methods is problematic when employed in areas where remains are likely to be of Hispanic origin. As such, this study tests the hypothesis that two contemporary populations from Latin America (Colombia and Mexico) will demonstrate significant craniometric shape variability and provides population-specific forensic ancestry estimation methods.
This study explores geometric morphometric population variation and differentiation in 422 Colombian and Arizona Migrant individuals, 18 to 102 years of age. The Colombian sample is composed of 191 individuals from the late 20th and early 21st century (University of Antioquia). The Migrant sample is composed of 231 border crossers from the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) in Tucson, AZ. The PCOME reports that the majority of migrants who die along the United States-Mexico border are from Mexico, and, as such, this group will represent a contemporary Mexican population.4 MorphoJ, a program written for geometric morphometric analyses, was used to interpret the data in order to understand shape variation between the samples.5 A Generalized Procrustes Analysis (GPA) was performed to scale, rotate, and transform the data into a common coordinate system. Males and females were pooled together in order to maximize the sample size. Subsequently, a Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) was run in order to maximize the differences among the groups and isolate the key features contributing to the variation.
Mahalanobis distances were produced from the CVA and indicated statistically significant differences between the Migrant group and the Colombian group (p <.001). The plot produced by the CVA graphically displays the separation between the Colombian and Migrant group. The results support the hypothesis that morphological differences exist between the Colombian and Migrant decedents, who are more likely Mexican nationals. Therefore, a greater level of classification accuracy beyond “Hispanic” is possible using geometric morphometric methods.
This study supports the notion that a higher level of forensic identification may be possible using a geometric morphometric approach for Hispanic populations. Both the Colombian and Migrant samples demonstrate variability in form that underscores the importance of introducing geometric morphometric methods into the forensic toolkit. Moreover, this study demonstrates that Hispanic populations are not skeletally homogenous due to unique admixtures from the three primary ancestral groups (European, African, and Native/Asian) and differing population histories. Therefore, within a statistical framework, geometric morphometric methods can derive accurate identifications by assessing ancestry in a meaningful way using the morphological variation present in the human cranium.
This research was funded by Boston University’s Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by identifying the various changes to restored and non-restored teeth after exposure to acids, including changes to mass, crown width and length, color, and overall qualitative features. Additionally, this presentation will provide statistical analyses that identify the significant changes to dentition exposed to different household acidic solutions and concentrations.
A gap in the literature exists regarding the chemical effects of household acids at different concentrations on restored and non-restored dentition. While previous studies have focused primarily on how bone, hair, and teeth are affected by acids through quantitative and qualitative changes over 24-hour time periods, few studies utilize radiographic imaging for identification purposes subsequent to acid exposure or extend the acid exposure beyond 24 hours.1,2 The paucity of information on acid effects is problematic in forensic contexts, as human remains are frequently exposed to acids for concealment purposes, thereby potentially complicating the identification process.
This study utilizes 105 adult human premolars (n=46) and molars (n=59) consisting of restorations composed of silver amalgam (n=62), porcelain fused-to-metal restorations (n=25), and teeth with no restorative material (n=18). All samples were collected from the Body Donation program cadavers at Boston University’s Division of Graduate Medical Sciences. The household corrosive chemical agents consisted of hydrochloric acid (Clorox® Bleach Cleaner and The Works®) and sulfuric acid (Drano® Drain Opener and Watchdog® Battery Acid), in addition to one base (Biz® Detergent) as a control. The teeth were radiographed before and after exposure to the various household products to mimic antemortem and postmortem radiographs. Twenty-one teeth were placed in 20mL of each solution and were removed from the solutions throughout the experimental process after 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 72, 120, and 264 hours. Documentation included mass, Mesiodistal (MD) and Buccolingual (BL) crown measurements, and photography. Additionally, an ordinal scoring system was developed to assess the visual changes after exposure to the acids.
The results indicate that 86 (82%) of the teeth could be positively identified by radiographs after exposure to the acids. The Works®, which is 20% concentrated hydrochloric acid, resulted in the most destruction and deteriorated 68% of the teeth (mainly the silver amalgam and non-restored dentition). The enamel, dentin, and pulp cavity of these teeth suffered liquefaction. The only dentition that was positively identified after exposure to the Works® were those of porcelain fused-to-metal. Only 28% of this sample were positively identified by radiographs. The Watchdog® Battery Acid, which is 51% concentrated sulfuric acid, was the next most-destructive solution and deteriorated 8% of the teeth (mainly silver amalgam and non- restored dentition). Most of the enamel and parts of the dentin were affected, while the pulp cavity remained intact. Further, 75% of the teeth were positively identified after exposure to the battery acid. The mass, MD, and BL measurements all decreased dramatically for the teeth that were exposed to hydrochloric and sulfuric products. Exposure to Clorox® Bleach Cleaner, which is 8.25% concentrated hydrochloric acid, and Drano® Drain Opener, which is 93.2% sulfuric acid, resulted in minimal damage to the teeth, with 100% of the teeth positively identified by radiographs after exposure. Only the outermost enamel was affected by these two solutions. The mass, MD, and BL lengths slightly decreased in size after exposure to Clorox® and Drano®. Exposure to Biz® Detergent, which is commonly used in maceration, had no effect on the teeth, with 100% positively identified by radiographs, and minimal mass, BL, and MD size decreases.
The results of this study demonstrate that various household corrosive substances can affect the morphology of teeth, and in some cases, destroy teeth, which could mask the identification of an individual; however, the restorations were minimally affected by corrosive agents and can therefore be used for positive identifications. Thus, the quantitative and qualitative data produced from this study can aid forensic cases that display evidence of acidic modification.
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation/Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (1414742) and the National Institute of Justice (2014-DN-BX-0002).
This research explores how the roles of mentors and protégés are perceived throughout the diverse academic and applied contexts of the field of forensic anthropology. All users of the AAFS Anthropology Section listserv received a link to an anonymous, IRB-approved Qualtrics.com survey. Instructions encouraged participants to share the survey link with other practitioners of varying skill and experience levels, including students and other non-members. Consenting participants answered 23 multiple-choice and 12 open-answer questions regarding their demographic information, opinions about mentorship, and experiences as both mentors and protégés.
A total of 96 professional forensic anthropologists and anthropology graduate students participated in the survey. The majority of respondents specialized in biological anthropology, had completed a PhD, and worked in the academic or medical-examiner setting. Most had been in the field for fewer than 21 years and were under the age of 45 years. The majority self-identified as being of female gender and European ancestry.
Respondents were nearly unanimous regarding the importance of mentorship in forensic anthropology, and many felt that being mentored directly contributed to their career success. Nearly all respondents had benefitted from the influence of multiple mentors, and many had also mentored multiple protégés. As expected, most respondents reported being mentored by a thesis/dissertation advisor. However, many respondents also reported peers as an important category of mentor (68%); and peers emerged as the most commonly reported category of protégé (75%). More respondents had received mentorship in career-related areas than they had in social interactions and social issues. Likewise, when asked in which areas they desired to provide and receive additional mentorship, more respondents selected these latter, social categories. Still, differences between distributions for mentorship provided/received and additional desired mentorship provided/received were not statistically significant (α=0.05; Wilcoxon rank-sum test; R). Further, the most commonly selected category for additional desired mentorship (both received and provided) was “none” – implying overall satisfaction with the mentorship experience.
This study indicates that the traditional mentorship paradigm is already shifting. In forensic anthropology, the mentorship paradigm does not solely consist of vertical-level interactions, but often includes horizontally oriented interactions. If our future reflects our past, then forensic anthropologists must honor the long-valued (and still valuable) role of the traditional mentor, while emphasizing the non-traditional mentorship behaviors that can enhance the careers and lives of both trainees and experienced practitioners.
This presentation will impact forensic science by demonstrating the importance of diversity and inclusion, and how it can benefit the forensic anthropology community. Additionally, this presentation will outline the development of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee within the Anthropology Section, as well as its primary objectives, survey results, and proposals of how individuals and institutions can increase diversity at multiple levels within applied and academic contexts.
Diversity and inclusion has proven to be an asset for individual and group performance, growth, development, and success in business and academia through principles of flexibility, equifinality, and respect for differences. Research demonstrates that diverse communities or workforces result in sustained competitive advantages through increased innovation and creativity. In 2017, the President of the AAFS Anthropology Section created an ad hoc committee to critically explore the current state of diversity within forensic anthropology. In 2018, this ad hoc committee was enthusiastically changed to a permanent Diversity and Inclusion Committee by voting members (AAFS created a similar Diversity and Outreach Committee in 2015 to develop comprehensive strategies to support diversity and promote collaboration, professionalism, and integrity). Primary objectives of the Committee include assessing diversity-related concerns of the Section, promoting inclusiveness, acting as an advocate for underrepresented individuals in forensic science, and promoting diversity-related resources for all Section members. This venture importantly parallels committees formed by closely aligned professional organizations, including the American Association of Physical Anthropologists and the Society for American Archaeology, and thus has the advantage of observing how diversity and inclusion movements in similar organizations have successfully resulted in innovation, renewal, and growth.
In order to evaluate the current state of diversity and inclusion in forensic anthropology, the Committee created and distributed an Institutional Review Board-approved survey to all members of the Anthropology Section (University of South Florida proposal #00032513). Of the 220 participants, ages range from 18-85+ years, with most being 25-44 years old (58.8%), who hold various degrees/certifications, including B.A./B.S. (13.3%), M.A./M.S. (26.1%), Ph.D. (28.0%), M.D./Ph.D. (12.8%), and Ph.D./Diplomate status in the American Board of Forensic Anthropology (19.9%). Of the respondents, only 30.9% self-identify as a member of an underrepresented group, including African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, LGBTQ+, and/or disabled. Heterogeneity is believed to be the greatest at the undergraduate level, with diversity decreasing in vertical movement through graduate, postdoctoral, and/or professional statuses. Overall, the majority (63.9%) of respondents believe that forensic anthropology exhibits little diversity; this lack of diversity is considered problematic to 73.4% of respondents, while 84.3% believe the Section should do more to recruit and maintain diverse forensic anthropologists.
While 90.6% of respondents feel accepted within the Anthropology section, discrimination is an issue: 24.0% of respondents have experienced discrimination, while 46.3% have witnessed discrimination in the Section. Issues of discrimination, disrespect, and exclusion can have a particularly negative effect on our community, as it can lead to attrition of those with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Furthermore, these figures are especially worrisome since 59.9% of respondents do not know how to report incidents of discrimination within the Section.
Similar to comparable endeavors in other scientific and non-scientific contexts, we contend that diversifying forensic anthropology through outreach and inclusion of persons with unique backgrounds and life experiences will ultimately benefit our science. While we recognize a strong tradition of scientific integrity in forensic anthropology, our community’s homogeneity, exclusivity, and competitive nature may make us blind to assumptions in our scientific interpretations. We believe diversity and inclusion in research and practice permits greater innovation, and the propensity to critically examine our assumptions, particularly as they relate to the complex and dynamic populations that we serve. This study demonstrates that our scientific community faces two major hurdles in this venture: recruitment and retention of diverse members. Through thoughtful and concerted efforts to value diversity during graduate school selection and hiring processes, to support mentorship programs, and to foster an environment of respect and acceptance in our Section, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee believes forensic anthropology can greatly improve and serve as a successful model within the forensic sciences.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by identifying the nonmetric traits that are the most useful in identifying Japanese and Thai individuals. Additionally, this presentation will provide forensic anthropologists with statistical models to differentiate between Japanese and Thai individuals using nonmetric traits.
Effective biological profiles in forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology depend on the development, validation, and refinement of population-specific methods. However, most biological profile methods were developed in North America on individuals of African and European descent, and it is unlikely that such methods accurately determine biological profiles for Asian individuals. Further, Native Americans have served as biological proxies for Asians due to their distantly shared genetic history, resulting in the largely untested assumption that Native Americans and Asians share a unique suite of cranial traits that can be used to ascertain ancestry. The continued reliance on methods developed from non-Asian populations is especially problematic in forensic contexts where Asian remains are likely to be recovered, including mass disaster contexts and large western U.S. cities where significant populations of East and Southeast Asians reside.
This study explores nonmetric cranial trait variability in 1,397 Japanese and Thai individuals, 17 to 96 years of age. The Japanese sample is composed of 209 individuals from the late 19th to early 20th centuries (Chiba University) and 572 individuals from the modern era (Jikei University). The Thai sample is composed of 616 individuals from the modern era (Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai Universities). Trait frequencies and chi square analyses for 37 traditional and novel cranial and mandibular traits used in ancestry assessment were calculated to determine if the Japanese and Thai differ from each other, and from Native Americans in trait expressions. Subsequently, binary logistic regression equations and Chi Square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) decision trees were calculated to identify the traits that best differentiate Japanese and Thai individuals. Additional nonparametric statistical tests examined the affects of sex, age-at-death, inter-trait correlations, intraobserver error, and time period on the nonmetric traits.
The results indicate that 32 (87%) of cranial and mandibular traits used in ancestry assessment significantly differ in frequency between the Japanese and Thai. Additionally, logistic regression equations and CHAID decision trees correctly classified 61-91% of individuals, with the logistic regression equations performing the best and all classifications favoring the Japanese individuals. The traits that performed the best at differentiating the two groups include the inferior nasal aperture, nasal aperture shape, prognathism, occlusion, maxillary incisor orientation, gonial muscle attachment ridging, mandibular tori, and chin projection. Further, the Japanese and Thai differ from Native Americans in the frequency distributions for most nonmetric traits. However, nonmetric traits are influenced by several factors, including sex, age-at-death, inter-trait correlations, intraobserver error, and time period, thereby complicating their use in ancestry assessment.
This study demonstrates that the Japanese, Thai, and Native Americans are not skeletally homogenous, as they exhibit differences in the expression of cranial trait frequencies due to unique population histories. Thus, nonmetric traits can be used within a statistical framework to identify Japanese and Thai individuals, despite the factors that influence the expression of nonmetric traits. Moreover, the findings of this research underscore the importance of developing population-specific biological profile methods for diverse and understudied Asian populations.
Key words: Ancestry Assessment; Nonmetric Traits; Asia
* This research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (1414742), and the National Institute of Justice (2014-DN-BX-0002).