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Forensic Anthropology

  • Writer: Atenea
    Atenea
  • Dec 16, 2021
  • 2 min read

Forensic anthropology is a specialty within physical anthropology that uses and applies its methods and techniques to assist in the administration of justice, in cases where the identification of unknown deceased individuals is required in medico-legal contexts. Its main objective is the individualization and identification of a person through their physical features, via a morpho-comparative study. For this process, forensic anthropology is based on the study of human skeletal remains and the environment, as well as using somatology and osteology. Among the identification processes are:

  • Sex

  • Age

  • Racial affiliation

  • Height

  • Body proportions

  • Individual traits

  • Pathologies

  • Time, causes, and circumstances of death

In recent years, the demand for forensic anthropologists has increased alarmingly, and since their field of application enables the increase of human identification, it has become a highly required and sought-after science, at least at the national level, not only in large cities (such as CDMX, Guadalajara, and Monterrey). Thanks to forensic anthropologists and medical examiners working side by side, many families of “disappeared” victims have been able to find peace by positively identifying the person in question, thus closing cycles of despair and anguish from not knowing what happened to their relative. It is indisputable that with the help of forensic anthropology and what it can provide for the clarification of a criminal act in medico-legal contexts, as we know, it is not the only science or discipline that joins the justice team; there are many and varied, and each contributes something to the investigation to make it effective and complete the puzzle of the event.



Bibliography

Unknown. (June 11, 2018). Criminal and forensic anthropology. Retrieved August 8, 2021, from Estudio criminal: https://www.estudiocriminal.eu/blog/antropologia-criminal-y-antropologia-forense/

Unknown. (n.d.). INCIFO. Retrieved August 8, 2021, from Institute of Forensic Sciences: https://www.incifocdmx.gob.mx/antropologia-forense/

Forensic, S. M. (n.d.). Baja California Judicial Power. Retrieved August 8, 2021, from SEMEFO: https://pjbc.gob.mx/semefo/antropologia.aspx

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