NCJ Number
182623
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 44 Issue: 4 Dated: July 1999 Pages: 700-707
Editor(s)
R. E. Gaensslen Ph.D.
Date Published
1999
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The increasing need for accurate race assessment from post-cranial skeletal remains has emphasize the lack of simple, replicable methods by which to accomplish the task; several techniques have been proposed but without adequate results.
Abstract
Anterior femoral curvature was first suggested and researched by Stewart in 1962, but the technique used in this study was subjective. Stewart provided no substantial discrimination between whites and blacks. Two later studies only reused Stewart's technique and data. Consequently, the current study was designed to provide an improved technique. Skeletal collections at the Smithsonian, as well as forensic collections at the University of Florida and the University of Tennessee, provided specimens for the study. The historical collection of the First African Baptist Church of Philadelphia and the modern forensic collection at Louisiana State University provided test samples. Only black and white individuals were used, and those were selected based on previous soft tissue or positive identification. Thirteen measurements were taken, including six newly developed measures, and age, race, and sex were also document. Discriminant analysis was employed to develop functions for race assessment. Data analysis showed study variables provided an accuracy of 88.15 percent using the right femur and 86.10 using the left femur. The femur proved to be useful in determining race. 16 references and 13 figures