Techniques for differentiation of blunt forece, sharp force, and gunshot traumas from heat fractures in burnt remains
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2023
Department/School
Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology
Publication Title
Burnt Human Remains: Recovery, Analysis, and Interpretation
Abstract
One of the most consequential roles of the forensic anthropologist is to determine the type and timing of trauma to human bone for medicolegal investigations. Understanding how bones break down when exposed to heat provides direct indicators for the differentiation of various perimortem traumas from heat fractures, as burnt bone can still show remnants of blunt force, sharp force, and gunshot traumas. This chapter reviews the biomechanics and characteristics of different types of bone trauma with additional thermal damage to help the practitioner better interpret the type and timing of trauma with thermal damage, and provides an overview of new techniques, as well as case study examples. The biomechanics of bone fractures are dependent upon the mass and velocity of impact, the bone shape, and the bone material properties. As organic components dissipate from bone during heating, heat fractures begin to propagate.
Recommended Citation
Friedlander, H., Moore, M. K., & Mayne Correia, P. (2023). Techniques for differentiation of blunt forece, sharp force, and gunshot traumas from heat fractures in burnt remains. In S. Ellingham, J. Adserias‐Garriga, S. C. Zapico, & D. H. Ubelaker (Eds.), Burnt human remains: Recovery, analysis, and interpretation (pp. 167–189). Wiley. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781119682691.ch10
Comments
M. Moore is a faculty member in EMU's Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology.