Research Training ProgramSmithsonian
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Wanda K. Lewis New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico Ralph E. Chapman, M.S. Supervising Scientist Department of ADP "Sometimes in your life, you are given an opportunity to change your whole outlook. The Research Training Program did this for me. It gave me an opportunity to see, hear, and do things I never dreamed possible." |
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Morphometric Comparison of Human Crania with Photographs
ABSTRACT
In forensic science there is a frequent need to identify human cranial remains. With the current methods, clay modeling and video superimposition, seldom is any quantitative estimate available or even considered, of the goodness-of-fit. Furthermore, no studies are available to suggest what the probability is that the outcome obtained is not just random chance. Developments over the past twenty years in the science of morphometrics, the quantitative analysis of shape, provide methods that can optimize the fit and provide estimations of how good the fit is. This project used crania from the Terry Collection, Department of Anthropology, for which death masks also were available. Landmark points were developed from established points used in previous studies, and through experimentation. Photographs were then taken of both the crania and the masks. Finally, a landmark morphometric method, Resistant-Fit-Theta-Rho-Analysis (RFTRA), a form of Procrustes analysis, was used to make the superimpositions and provide a value estimating the goodness-of-fit of each skull with its counterpart mask. The results suggest that there is excellent potential for using such methods to make identifications, but that variability in the placement of landmarks can, at times, produce significant differences. The results will help scientists determine which landmarks are most effective in such studies. This method not only allows the fit of a skull with its counterpart face, but can also provide initial insight into identification of many forensic cases.
This research was supported by a grant from the NSF Alliance for Minority Participation.