Validation of a standard forensic anthropology examination protocol by measurement of applicability and reliability on exhumed and archive samples of known biological attribution. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Francisco, Raffaela Arrabaça; Evison, Martin Paul; Costa Junior, Moacyr Lobo da; Silveira, Teresa Cristina Pantozzi; Secchieri, José Marcelo; Guimarães, Marco Aurelio
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 279(2017)
• Page Start: 241
• Page End: 250
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Forensic anthropology -- Osteology -- Validation -- Applicability -- Reliability -- Brazil; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.08.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: Validation of forensic examination protocol applied to exhumed and archived skeletal samples of known biographic profile. Measurement of methodological applicability and reliability. Issues of methodological reliability and validation in Brazilian and other novel populations discussed. Abstract: Forensic anthropology makes an important contribution to human identification and assessment of the causes and mechanisms of death and body disposal in criminal and civil investigations, including those related to atrocity, disaster and trafficking victim identification. The methods used are comparative, relying on assignment of questioned material to categories observed in standard reference material of known attribution. Reference collections typically originate in Europe and North America, and are not necessarily representative of contemporary global populations. Methods based on them must be validated when applied to novel populations. This study describes the validation of a standardized forensic anthropology examination protocol by application to two contemporary Brazilian skeletal samples of known attribution. One sample ( n = 90) was collected from exhumations following 7–35 years of burial and the second ( n = 30) was collected following successful investigations following routine case work. The study presents measurement of (1) the applicability of each of the methods: used and (2) the reliability with which the biographic parameters were assigned in each case. The results are discussed with reference to published assessments of methodological reliability regarding sex, age and—in particular—ancestry estimation.