Forensic anthropology 147well developed an individual may have been for a particular frame size and
stature at some point in life. Examination of the pattern in which the skeleton
has reinforced itself in response to habitual or repetitive biomechanical
action has sometimes proved useful in the inclusion or exclusion of certain
occupations, sports, or other activities performed over a period of several
years, which may alter a list of suspected matches.^508.2.5 Individualization
Establishing the intersection set between sex, age, ancestry, and stature into
which the decedent falls will eliminate a substantial number of suspected
matches and false leads, and may help in redirecting the investigation into the
identity of an unknown. An estimate of the postmortem interval (see below)
will reduce the list further. When these data, combined with a list of unique
identifiers, are compared to a database of missing persons, the list of possible
matches usually reduces to a manageable few. At the discovery of unknown
human remains, the authorities will either have a theory about the identity of
the decedent or not. If there is a suspected match, all pertinent antemortem
data will be assembled. This will include dental charts, bitewings and pano-
graphic images if available, old x-rays, or other medical images (e.g., CT scans,
MRI, etc.). When images are unavailable, medical records describing pros-
theses, pacemakers, shunt devices, cosmetic implants, orthopedic devices,
and the like may be sufficiently detailed for comparison to the postmortem
evidence. Antemortem records of diseases that would be expected to leave evi-
dence in the hard tissues are also useful, particularly when the incidence of a
disorder is known. Detailed descriptions of conditions (e.g., fractures, lesions,
etc.), procedures, and appliances (including serial numbers) are useful. These
antemortem data should confirm or exclude a potential match. In some cases
of suspected identity, when none of the foregoing is available, it is sometimes
useful to perform a skull-to-photograph superimposition. Although tradition-
ally used to exclude matches, some have successfully employed video super-
imposition to achieve positive identifications when a complete skull and good
quality photographs from several angles are available.^4 If open-mouth photo-
graphs are of sufficient resolution and detail, a direct comparison between
the antemortem and postmortem anterior dentition may be possible. This
approach rises to the standard of positive identification when combinations
of features such as treatments (e.g., crowns, cosmetic modifications, extrac-
tions, etc.) and anatomy (e.g., diastemas, rotations, embrasures, etc.) provide
multiple points of comparison. This technique is best deployed jointly by the
anthropologist and the odontologist.
The identification process follows a Bayesian statistical model. The
likeli hood of an individual being a particular sex, age, ancestry, and stature
is roughly the product of the individual probabilities of being any one of