Decoding the Silent: Forensic Anthropology and the Identification of Human Remains
Keywords:
Forensic anthropology, Human identification, Biological profile, Skeletal remains, Digital forensic technologiesAbstract
Forensic anthropology is an essential component of the scientific identification of the unknown human remains in criminal and humanitarian investigations using osteological, biological and medico-legal principles. This review emphasizes the importance of forensic anthropology in the interpretation of skeletal remains to determine identity when other identification methods are inadequate or unavailable. It covers biological profile development by sex, age at death, stature estimation, and population affinity estimation and the role of individual skeletal features in personal identification. The review also covers the state-of-the-art identification methods such as radiographic comparison, computed tomography (CT), three-dimensional (3D) imaging, craniofacial superimposition, DNA analysis and new developments of artificial intelligence and digital anthropology. Recent technological developments, current challenges and future directions in forensic anthropology are also included in the discussion, highlighting the ongoing development of forensic anthropology as an essential field for the accurate and scientifically valid human identification.
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