ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 7

Microscopic Characteristics of Hacking Trauma
Tucker, BK
WI

Hutchinson, DL
East Carolina University, NC

Daniel, HJ
East Carolina University, NC

Wolfe, LD
East Carolina University, NC

Gilliland, MFG
Division of Forensic Pathology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, NC

Charles, TM
East Carolina University, NC

(Received 24 December 1999; accepted 10 April 2000)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if it is possible to associate machetes, axes, and cleavers with the microscopic parallel striations they leave on the cut surfaces of the bone. Hacking trauma was experimentally inflicted on pig bones using machetes, axes, and cleavers. Negative impressions of both the cut surfaces of the bone and the weapon blades were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The results of this investigation indicate that it is possible to correlate a class of hacking weapons to trauma inflicted on bone by these weapons.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic anthropology, hacking trauma, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microscopic striations, sharp-force trauma, cut marks, weapons, cleavers, axes, machetes, tools

Paper ID: JFS14955J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14955J
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