ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 6

A Microscopic Comparison of Fresh and Burned Bone
Neson, R
Graduate Student, Human Identification Laboratory, Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, AZ

Neson, R
MI

(Received 5 August 1991; accepted 10 December 1991)

Abstract

Examination of miscrostructure of human bone is useful in estimating age at death in forensic science cases. This technique has been tested and is well accepted, however samples of burned bone may complicate analysis because of possible changes in the microstructure occurring during the burning process. In a comparison of fresh and burned ground thin sections taken from midshaft femorae of eight dissecting-room cadavers of known age and sex, this study finds significant shrinkage of microstructural elements through the burning process. These results are compared to previous work on the subject, which found the microstructural elements to increase through the burning process.

Keywords:
physical anthropology, osteon, age determination, burned bone

Paper ID: JFS13291J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13291J
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