Forensic Anthropology

Dr. Max M. Houck is an internationally-recognized forensic expert with research interests in forensic science, education, and the forensic enterprise and its industries. He has worked in all aspects of forensic science, including at the FBI Laboratory. Dr. Houck has published widely in books and peer-reviewed journals. His anthropology and trace evidence casework includes the Branch Davidian Investigation, the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon, the D.B. Cooper case, the US Embassy bombings in Africa, and the West Memphis Three case, among hundreds of others. He served for six years as the Chair of the Forensic Science Educational Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). Dr. Houck is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a founding Co-Editor of the journal Forensic Science Policy and Management.

Section 1. Overview

Forensic Anthropology: An Introduction

History of Forensic Anthropology

Principles of Forensic Science

Transfer

Interpretation/The Comparative Method

Forensic Classification of Evidence

Key Terms

Review Questions

Discussion Questions

Section 2. Taphonomy

Introduction

Animal Effects on Bones

Forensic Taphonomy

Postmortem Interval

Early and Late Postmortem Changes

Estimation of the Time Since Death

Key Terms

Review Questions

Discussion Questions

Section 3. Recovery

Introduction

Archeology

Packaging

Preservation

Recording

Recovery of Human Remains

Collection and Chain of Evidence

Contamination

Principles for the Organization of Forensic Support

Key Terms

Review Questions

Discussion Questions

Section 4. Analysis

Introduction

Species: Human versus Nonhuman

Sexing

Aging the Dead and the Living

Stature and Build

Ancestry

Forensic Age Estimation

Key Terms

Review Questions

Discussion Questions

Section 5. Pathology

Introduction

Bone Pathology and Antemortem Trauma

Biomechanics of Bone Trauma

Bone Trauma

Blunt Injury

Sharp Trauma

Gunshot Wounds

Torture

Key Terms

Review Questions

Discussion Questions

Section 6. Identification

Introduction

Identification of the Living

Facial Approximation

Personal Identification in Forensic Anthropology

Odontology

Disaster Victim Identification

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Identification

Key Terms

Review Questions

Discussion Questions

Section 7. Statistics and Interpretation

Introduction

The Frequentist Approach to Forensic Evidence Interpretation

Statistical Interpretation of Evidence: Bayesian Analysis

Forensic Intelligence

Forensic Intelligence Analysis

Standard Methods

Measurement Uncertainty

Key Terms

Review Questions

Discussion Questions

Section 8. Professional Topics

Introduction

Crime Scene to Court

Expert Witness Qualifications and Testimony

Forensic Laboratory Reports

Legal Aspects of Forensic Science

Health and Safety

Ethics

Key Terms

Review Questions

Discussion Questions