Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 3. In: Buikstra, J. E., Ubelaker, D. H. (1994). Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains. Fayetteville: Arkansas Archeological Survey Research Series 44.
- This is a good overview of the methods used to determine age at death from the human skeleton.
- Harris, E. F., McKee, J. H. (1990). Tooth mineralization standards for Blacks and Whites from the middle southern United States. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 34:859–872.
- This is the largest study on tooth development and age.
- McKern, T., Stewart, T. D. (1957). Skeletal age changes in young American males, analyzed from the standpoint of identification. Technical report EP-45. Headquarters, Quartermaster Research and Development Command, Natick, MA.
- This is a seminal work on determining age from the human skeleton.
- Moorrees, C. F. A., Fanning, E. A., Hunt, E. E. (1963a). Formation and resorption of three deciduous teeth in children. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 21:205–213.
- This presents the most often method used to determine age of subadults from the deciduous dentition.
- Moorrees, C. F. A., Fanning, E. A., Hunt, E. E. (1963b). Age variation of formation stages for ten permanent teeth. Journal of Dental Research, 42: 1490–1502.
- This presents the most often method used to determine age of subadults from the deciduous dentition.
- Suchey, J. M., Katz, D. (1998). Application of pubic age determination in a forensic setting. In: Kathleen Reichs, ed. Forensic Osteology, 2nd ed. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
- This is the latest description of the Suchey-Katz-Brooks method for determining age from the symphyseal surface.
- Schour, I, Massler, M. (1941). The development of the human dentition. Journal of the American Dental Association, 28(7):1153-1159.
- The seminal work on tooth eruption and age.
- Todd, T. W. (1920). Age changes in the pubic bone: I, the male white pubis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 3:285–334.
- This is the seminal work on determining age from the symphyseal surface.
- Todd, T. W., Lyon, D. W. (1924). Endocranial suture closure: Its progress and age relationship. Part I, adult males of white stock. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 7:325–384.
- This is the seminal work on determining age from cranial suture closure.
- Todd, T. W., Lyon, D. W. (1925a). Cranial suture closure: Its progress and age relationship. Part II, ectocranial closure in adult males of white stock. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 8:23–44.
- This is an addition to the original article on cranial suture closure and age at death.
- Todd, T. W., Lyon, D. W. (1925b). Cranial suture closure: Its progress and age relationship. Part III, endocranial closure in adult males of Negro stock. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 8:47–71.
- This is an addition to the original article on cranial suture closure and age at death for Blacks.
- Todd, T. W., Lyon, D. W. (1925c). Cranial suture closure: Its progress and age relationship. Part IV, ectocranial closure in adult males of Negro stock. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 8:149–168.
- This is an addition to the original article on cranial suture closure and age at death for Blacks.
Useful Weblinks
- In 2022, the Society of Forensic Anthropologists (SOFA) and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) paired together to put on a webinar on Forensic Fractography by Dr. Angi Christensen. Dr. Christensen will discuss material failure and how to detect evidence of failure in bones and what that can tell us about trauma. The webinar is now archived. In order to view the archived webinar, you must sign up for an FTCOE account, but it is free to do so. The link below will guide you to the about page for the webinar you must click the “back to webinar series page” and make sure you have an account.
- https://forensiccoe.org/webinar-2022-forensic-fractography-bone/
For a cool bioarcheological exploration of early gunshot trauma from the 1500s check out this video from the Center of Innovation at Leiden University “The Truth in our bones series”
See the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Teams Fredy Perccerelli discuss the mass graves from the 36 year conflict which killed over 200,000 civilians.
Watch the analysis of the trauma to the skeleton of Richard the III done by the University of Leicester. Richard III was the King of England 1483-1485, he was killed at the battle of Bosworth Field during the final battle of the Roses.
Although they are a bit dated, the FilmRISE series Skeleton Stories shows real forensic anthropologists work real cases. There are 13 episodes to the series.