This week has been a bit more technical and some of you may have found the content more challenging. If so, then please ensure that you have a look at …
Perhaps one of the most famous cases of DNA identification is that of the skeletal remains of the last Russian Royal Family: the Romanovs. The Romanov family was the last …
Although based on the same principles, ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis requires extra protection against contamination. Watch this video to learn more about the process of preparing and analysing samples for …
DNA Sampling What bones should be sampled? Teeth and bones are the most environmentally resistant human tissues, and they can survive, even for millennia, when the soft tissues are long …
With the exception of monozygotic (identical) twins, the genetic information of a person is unique and can, therefore, be used for human identification in conflicts, mass disasters or crime scene …
DNA Analysis: The Answer to all our problems? Most people know a lot about DNA. Or perhaps think they do from watching crime programmes or from using Ancestry DNA kits, …
It is tempting to see isotopes as a conclusive method for identifying whereabouts someone was born and grew up because they are a scientific method and provide a ‘number’. There …
You are where you eat Isotope analyses of strontium (87Sr/86Sr), oxygen (δ18O), and lead (Pb – various ratios) can provide information on the movements of past populations by identifying individuals …
You are what you eat! Isotopic analysis of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) is a well-established technique for the reconstruction of human and animal diets in past populations. In teeth …
In this video see how teeth are prepared for isotopic analyses. Once you understand the process a bit better, go to the next step to learn about how isotopes inform …
Stable isotope analysis has had a transformative impact on the archaeological study of humans. Analyses of the ratios of different chemical elements within bones and teeth have allowed archaeologists to …
Evidence of pathology and trauma on the skeleton provide important information that can help to identify the deceased and can provide possible evidence of the circumstances or cause of death. …
In this section, we’re going to talk about skeletal pathology, so abnormal changes on the bones. As you might expect, this is a vast subject, there have been lots of …
Identification of a Murder Victim The following case provided by Dr Claudia Garrido-Varas (pictured above) will illustrate some of the benefits of dental forensic examination for human identification, using both …
Dental disease is routinely studied in both archaeological and modern skeletons because it is such a rich source of information. Not only can dental disease be useful in helping to …