Abstract:
Standard operating procedures for forensic anthropological analyses dictate that thermally
altered remains should not be measured, hindering the creation of a biological
profile. Few studies have addressed estimating biological parameters from burned
remains, with the greatest focus of this research area being on cremated remains.
However, veldt fires are more common than cremation in the South African forensic
context. The aim of this study was to explore the degree of structural changes observed
in domestic pig (Sus scrofa) bones associated with thermal destruction and the potential
impact on the estimation of a biological profile using standard osteometric methods. A
total of 96 pig femora were divided equally into two categories: fresh and dry. Within
each category, equal samples were exposed to different durations of burning, namely,
5, 10, and 20 min. Ten standard femoral anthropological measurements were collected
before and after burning. Technical error of measurement and Wilcoxon signed-rank
tests were used to assess changes in the femoral dimensions before and after burning.
Most measurements were significantly different after burning, with the fresh bones
decreasing in size by up to 7.8% and the dry bones decreasing in size by up to 4.0%. The
magnitude of post-burning
measurement changes for both burn conditions was similar
to, or smaller than has previously been reported for observer measurement errors of
commonly used variables investigated for standard osteometric studies. Veldt fires are
less intense than cremation, thus causing less shrinkage.
Description:
Presented at the 73rd Annual Scientific Conference of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, February 15–19,
2021, held virtually.
