Publication details
Distinguishing between Human and Non-human bones: Histometric metod for forensic antropology
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2005 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Anthropologie |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Archaeology, anthropology, ethnology |
| Keywords | forensic anthropology; human/non-human origin; bone microscopy; histomorphometrics; image analysis |
| Description | In order to develop an identification key for distinguishing between human and nonhuman osteological samples, bone structure of several animal taxa was studied using quantitative microscopy. Both domestic and wild species were included in the sample, analysed at both micrometric (13 variables) and macrometric (3 variables) scales. The data was first used to evaluate inter- and intraspecies diversity. Least determinative parameters were then eliminated via stepwise discriminant function analysis. The most discriminating microproperties of compact bone tissue were: number of osteons in 1 mm2, maximum osteon diameter, maximum diameter and area of Haversian canal, and mid-shaft femoral cortical thickness. Two different equations for discriminating between human and non-human bone are formulated. The 1st type uses only histometric properties of bone structure. The 2nd type of equations combines histometric measurement and cortical thickness. The latter equations correctly predict taxonomic classification in 100% of cases. |