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Investigations in Sex Estimation: A Comparison of Morphological and Metrical Methods is a collective comparison of the many morphological and metric methods currently used on adult and juvenile human remains. This single comprehensive resource for sex estimation in skeletal material includes discussion on the evolution of sexual dimorphism in modern humans, how sexual dimorphism manifests itself in those bones, the growth development in juveniles and how sexual dimorphism can be measured in their bones. Data is presented which contradicts previously held postulates and some different uses of sex estimation methods are suggested, such as using the grading system to assess evolutionary change in skeletons or grouping juveniles into smaller groups by age to better estimate sex. New insights are offered for future research from the presentation of case studies on gender and a comparison of the sex differences between two African-American collections which suggests a correlation between occupation and evolutionary change. To achieve the objective, data on 294 adults from four diverse collections of known sex are obtained using a total of 67 morphological and metric methods. An additional 23 morphological and metric methods used on juveniles, aged 0 to 18, from two of the collections. The methods are specific to either the cranium, mandible, pelvis, humerus or femur. The compilation of assessment of sex provides definitive answers on which type of method, morphological or metric, is more accurate, which morphological and metric methods are the most accurate, and which bones are more reliable to estimate sex especially in the absence of a pelvis. Investigations in Sex Estimation is intended to be used in the field and the laboratory for the identification of sex in human remains and aims to provide a wealth of data for future research in sexual dimorphic studies. - Provides the anthropological community with the results of the first collective comparison of the many morphological and metric methods currently used on adults and juveniles - Introduces methods, reviews sexual dimorphism, and shares new insights for future research - Highly illustrated, using testing data from four very diverse skeletal collections

Ancestry determination in the identification of unknown remains can be a challenge for forensic scientists and anthropologists, especially when the remains available for testing are limited. There are various techniques for the assessment of ancestry, ranging from traditional to new microbiological and computer-assisted methods. Biological Affinity

This updated edition represents an innovative book that has been used by forensic specialists for over a decade. It is intended to be used as a guide to the various methods for locating human remains. Most of the information is applicable to both archaeological and forensic situations. The intended audience are those who become actively involved in the hunt for human bodies, such as historic and prehistoric archaeologists and the law enforcement community, including coroner or medical examiner investigators and search and rescue teams. The book contains guidelines for the investigation of missing-person or homicide cases that require comprehensive body search planning. The core is a guide to methods for locating surface and buried bodies. The methods considered include ground contact, proximate and remote sensing techniques. The categories of methods are non-intrusive pedestrian searches, surface-penetrating ground searches, geophysical prospecting techniques, remote-sensing methods, aerial photography and interpretation, and parapsychological techniques. The author lists six objectives in preparing this work. The first is to assemble basic information on search methods and condense that information into a single source that can be a ready reference for practitioners. Secondly, it is hoped to provide sufficient information for practitioners to try and use the “do-it-yourself'techniques. The third objective is to provide decision-makers with guidelines for recognizing a situation that needs outside consultants. Accordingly, the fourth objective is to provide the data necessary to balance time, manpower, and costs against expected results. The fifth objective is to assist an investigator in compiling his own set of standard operating procedures for a search effort. And the final, sixth objective is to provide a list of references for investigators who want additional information. There are 87 illustrations in the book and there is also a new section on penetrometer technology. An appendix contains planning data sources, forensic geology and geophysics checklists, search factors for consideration, lost persons report, the Necrosearch Clandestine Grave Questionnaire, a summary of method advantages and disadvantages, and recommendations for research.