The Study of Human Skeletal Remains - Research Proposal Example

Bioarcheologists are Focus on the Study of Human Dental Rather than Skeletal Remains Amanda Dick Mary Lynn Cutler Engl 312 Subject / Course June 25, 2008 Date of Submission Table of Contents I. Introduction ……………………………………………………………. 3 II. General Information with regards to Bioarcheologists ……………. 4 III. Importance and Limitation of Human Bone Remains in Solving Crimes ……………………………………………………….. 4 a, Using Skeletal Remains in Determining the Victim’s Sex …………………………………………………. 5 IV. Importance and Limitation of Human Dental Remains in Solving Crimes ………………………………………………………. 5 a. Using Human Dental Remains in Determining the Victim’s Age …………………………………………………. 6 b. Using Human Dental Remains in Determining the Victim’s Sex …………………………………………………. 7 c. Using Human Dental Remains in Determining the Victim’s Past Occupation …………………………………. 8 d. Using Human Dental Remains in Determining the Victim’s Medical Condition and Treatments …………… 9 e. Human Dental Remains Reflects an Individual’s Lifestyle / Habits ……………………………………………. 10 V. Discussion …………………………………………………………… 11 VI. Conclusion …………………………………………………………… 12 References …………………………………………………………….……… 13 - 18 Introduction Even though the number of criminal victims significantly declines since 1993 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2006), the number of unsolved criminal cases throughout the United States remains high. For this reason, there is a need to increase the understanding of forensic scientists with regards to the advantages and disadvantages including the purpose and limitations of human dental and skeletal remains in order to minimize the number of unsolved criminal cases within the country. To enable readers to have a better and broader understanding with regards to the study of human dental and skeletal remains and its significance in solving criminal cases, the researcher will conduct a literature review in order to identify and determine the main function of bioarcheologists as well as the reasons behind why they focus so much in the study of human dental remains rather than skeletal remains. As part of the main body, the researcher will discuss the following: (1) importance of dental development when it comes to determining the age of the victim; (2) ways in which archeologists could determine the sex of the victim through by studying either the human dental remains and skeletal remains of the victim; (3) the use of human dental remains when it comes to determining the past occupations of the victim; and (4) ways in which human dental remains could reflect the victim’s past medical condition and treatments prior to his/her death. Prior to the conclusion, the researcher will seek to discuss how human dental remains could reflect the victim’s lifestyle and/or habits. General Information with regards to Bioarcheologists Bioarchaeology is the study of human remains from an archaeological setting especially when it comes with the human bones and dental development. (Stone, 2004) The main responsibility of bioarcheologists is to determine the history of human adaptations according to a diverse environmental, economic status, and social contexts. Considering the fact that the human teeth do not decompose whereas human bone remains takes a long time before it decompose due to environmental factors (Schaefer, 2008), bioarchaeologists exert extra effort in the study of human bones and teeth remains. Importance and Limitation of Human Bone Remains in Solving Crimes Upon compiling and assembling the human skeletal remains, it is possible to determine the number of individuals present within a single burial area. According to Janaway et al. (2001; 202 – 204), one can identify whether the victim(s) of a brutal murder is a combination of an infant and adult(s) or an adult alone by examining the size and number of human bone remains. Other detailed information that can be gathered from the study of human bone remains include: (1) the height of an individual; and (2) the possible causes of death such as cut-marks, abrasions or surface etching on the bones among others. (Janaway et al., 2001) However, there is a limitation in the study of human bone remains. Even though the study of human bone remains can be used in determining the approximate age of buried individual, erosion that takes place over a long period of time makes it difficult to determine the victims’ age. (Driscoll, n.d.) Using Skeletal Remains in Determining the Victim’s Sex There are no acceptable standards when it comes to sex identification. Several studies reveal that the study of human skeletal remains makes it possible to determine the sex in juvenile individuals. (Scheuer, 2002; Saunders, 2000: 138 – 141; Molleson et al., 1998; Schutkowski, 1993) According to Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994; 15), the shape of skull and the pelvis are commonly used in determining the sex of human bone remains. However, several studies conducted that is impossible to use skeletal remains in determining the sex of a decomposed body. (Walker, 1995; Stini, 1985) Aside from the fact that bone assembly is never enough to determine the sex of a decomposed body (Stini, 1985),post-menopausal females could develop a more masculine cranial morphology whereas young men in general have gracile and feminine features whereas age-related changes in the morphology of the pelvis may either represent either a male or a pre-pubescent female (Walker, 1995). For this reason, physical examination of human bone remains can be very misleading. As an alternative solution, several studies recommended the use of DNA analysis as a method of determining the sex of a decomposed body. (Brown, 2000; Stone, 2000) However, this method is very expensive. Importance and Limitation of Human Dental Remains in Solving Crimes Due to the limitations in study the human bone remains, the use of human dentition in determining the personal identification of victims of violence, accidents, disaster, homicides, suicides, or other unfortunate events such as fire is commonly used and is widely accepted. (Jones, 1998) According to Sweet and DiZinno (1996), it is possible to conduct a personal identification of deceased individuals in two ways: (1) by comparing the antemortem (before death) dental records with the human dental remains; and (2) by collecting and recording the postmortem (after death) dental profile which will be used in comparing with the antemortem records. Basically, postmortem dental profiling enables Bioarchaeologists to stay focused in the search for the antemortem record which normally contains information related to the deceased’s age, ancestry background, sex, and socio-economic status. In some cases, the antemortem record also provides information concerning the deceased’s occupation, habitual behaviors, dietary habits, and dental or systemic diseases. Using Human Dental Remains in Determining the Victim’s Age Regardless of whether the main cause of death is inflicted by another man or due to natural disaster, bioarcheaologists normally looks at the details on teeth when trying to identify a decomposing body. Studying the structure and development of teeth is also useful in determining the approximate age of a long-time buried individual. (Driscoll, n.d.) In line with this matter, bioarchaeologist should either examine the stages of dental development as well as the eruption of teeth either visually or with the use of radiographic images in order to observe the root development and the un-erupted teeth (Hillson, 1996; Ch. 5) or the incremental growth structures of teeth by conducting a microstructural investigation (Fitzgerald and Rose, 2000). As part of the main consideration, Bioarchaeologists should acknowledge that eruption of teeth is not a reliable source of age information but the formation stage of teeth and its root through the use of radiological examination. In line with this matter, Ubelaker (1989) and Gustafson and Koch (1974) studied the link between biological dental development with chronological age wherein both the genetic and environmental factors has been considered. Using Human Dental Remains in Determining the Victim’s Sex A lot of researchers agree that the measurement in the size of a tooth or the assessment of the morphology is not sufficient or accurate as a forensic identification. (Kieser and Groeneveld, 1989) For this reason, it is advisable to use a microscopic method in examining the pulp tissue since ‘Barr bodies’ is present only in females. (Dutty, Waterfield, and Skinner, 1991) Another way of determining the sex is to conduct a PCR analysis of DNA on a dental pulp and analysis of the amelogenin gene. (Pretty and Sweet, 2001) However, the use of DNA testing can be very costly. As an exception to the rule, mandibular canine index can be used in determining the sex of an unidentified victim (Muller et al., 2001; Rao et al. 1986) except in the case of children since the mandibular canine of male children is larger as compared with the young girls. (Lund and Mornstad, 1999) Using Human Dental Remains in Determining the Victim’s Past Occupation Many diseases that are caused by occupational hazards could either result in staining of tooth or in the loss of the hard dental tissues such as abrasion, erosion, and tooth decay. For this reason, the study of human dental remains can be used in determining the past occupation of an individual. Several studies show that it is possible for people working in flour millers, stone grinders, and manufacturers of cement to exhibit tooth substance loss which could lead to the exposure of the dentine and pulp complex. (Backanek et al., 1999; Tuominen and Tuominen, 1991) Individuals who are working in a very acidic working environment especially on the part of wine tasters or workers employed in chemical manufacturing companies such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and citric acid among others is sufficient enough to either cause some dissolution on the enamel and dentine (Gray, Ferguson, and Wall, 1998; Chaudhry, Harris, and Challacombe, 1997; Ferguson et al., 1996; Peterson and Gormsen, 1991) or erosion on the bucall or labial surface of the teeth (Zero, 1996). People who experience frequent vomiting may also exhibit a sign of erosion on the surface of palatal whereas those individuals working in a confectionery trade such as candy makers or sugar refineries may have signs of dissolution on the enamel due to metabolized sugar that was caused by the acidogenic bacteria. (Frencken et al., 1989) Basically, the erosion of teeth is primarily caused by sugar deposit that stagnates on the buccal and/or labial surface of the teeth. Lastly, individuals working close to manufacturers of superphosphate fertilizers, causes discoloration on the teeth. (Grandjean, 1982) Using Human Dental Remains in Determining the Victim’s Medical Condition and Treatments Post-mortem dental exhibits the medical condition of an individual by examining dental erosion that tends to occur on the palatal surface of the teeth. (Scheutzel, 1996) Health concerns such as the presence of a gastro-intestinal condition like hiatus hernia (Scheutzel, 1996), gastric ulcers and reflux diseases (Jailwala and Shaker, 2000; Bartlett, Evans and Smith, 1996) could cause palatal erosion on the maxillary teeth. (Bartlett et al., 2000; Schroeder et al., 1995) Gastric acid with pH level lower than one is enough to cause the erosion on teeth. Individuals with eating disorders may cause self-induced vomiting such as in the case of bulimia (Bartlett and Smith, 1994; Rytomaa et al., 1998), anorexia (Roberts and Tylenda, 1989), and rumination – an eating disorder wherein a person voluntarily regurgitate either by re-swallowing or expelling the ingested food (Bucolo, 1987; Robb, Cruwys and Smith, 1991) may also experience dental erosion. Most individuals who have eating disorders are adolescent girls. There is also an increase in the number of cases seen on teenage males. (Haller, 1992) However, frequent vomiting that is not always caused by eating disorders. Sometimes it can also be associated with chronic alcoholics. (Smith and Robb, 1989) Some medical conditions could lead to a unique coloration of the dental hard tissue. For instance, neonatal jaundice could result to either green or yellowish brown stain on the teeth which is associated with the disturbance in the development of the enamel. (Herbert and Delcambre, 1987) Based on some studies, it is the bile pigments that are deposited within the developing enamel and dentine that causes this kind of staining. (Herbert and Delcambre, 1987) Another case is congenital porphyria which is also known as ‘Gunther’s Disease’ – a rare congenital disease triggered by an error in porphyryin metabolism that leads to haemolytic anaemia, photosensitivity including the production of reddish-brown pigmentation on the teeth as well as in bones. This kind of staining is normally visible on non-aesthetic surfaces. (Fayle and Pollard, 1994; Pindborg, 1982) Excessive intake of iron supplements and the use of mouthwash containing chlorhexidine could result to either black or brown staining of the teeth. (Dodd et al., 1998; Addy et al., 1995) This kind of stain, together with a poor oral hygiene, is very difficult to remove. Human Dental Remains Reflects an Individual’s Lifestyle / Habits Cigarette or pipe smoking habit, drinking coffee and tea are some of the most common cause of extrinsic stains on the teeth. Since pipe smokers normally place the pipe stem in the same location, the wearing pattern is expected to be visible only in one area which is associated with nicotine stains and some soft tissue appearance. Drinking coffee and tea also causes some discoloration on the teeth. Habitual clenching of teeth could result to occlusal wear while drinking of soda or highly sweetened carbonated drinks could increase the risks of caries with some abrasion of the teeth. The combination of frequent drinking of carbonated drinks and the constant grinding of teeth increases the deterioration of tooth tissue causing a profound wear of teeth in young individuals. Discussion Determine the sex or gender of an individual using odontometric analyses is less costly than conducting a DNA analysis on the human bone remains. Unlike the study of human bone remains, the development of dental structure is considered to be the most accurate means of determining the age of an individual at the time of death among individuals who have not yet reached the dental maturity. By paying close attention to the human dental remains, bioarchaeologists can determine not only the age, sex, occupational history and health condition of the victims but also the genetic factors useful in analyzing the lifestyle and living condition of an individual. Other detailed information that can be gathered from the study of human bone remains include: (1) the height of an individual; and (2) the possible causes of death such as cut-marks, abrasions or surface etching on the bones among others. (Janaway et al., 2001) However, there is a limitation in the study of human bone remains. Bone assembly is not enough to determine the sex information of an individual. (Stini, 1985) Even though the study of human bone remains can be used in determining the approximate age of a buried individual, erosion that takes place over a long period of time makes it difficult to determine the victims’ age. (Driscoll, n.d.) Conclusion The study of human dental remains can provide more information about the victim rather than the use of skeletal remains. Basically, it is possible to study human bone remains in order to determine the approximate height of an individual or the number of victims present in a mass disaster. However, there is a limitation in the study of human bone remains which only the study of human dental remains could provide. It is very costly to conduct a DNA test on the bone remains to identify the sex of the victim. For this reason, it is advisable to study the human dental remains since it is more cost effective. It is possible for human bone remains to erode over a long period of time. This is not possible in the case of human dental remains since teeth do not decompose over time. For this reason, postmortem dental profiling can be used in the search for the victim’s antemortem record in order to retrieve information related to the victim’s age, ancestry background, sex, and socio-economic status. In some cases, information concerning the victim’s occupation, habitual behaviors, dietary habits, and dental or systemic diseases is also written on the antemortem dental record. The study of human dental remains particularly the physical appearance and structure could provide the researcher some basic information such as age, sex, health condition, lifestyle and habits which is not always evident in the study of the human bone remains. Therefore, bioarchaeologists pay more attention in the study of human dental remains. *** End *** Bibliography: Addy, M., et al. (1995). 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