Joint Interoperability Test Command

Radiographic comparison for identification is widely utilized. However, these methods are qualitative and subject to analyst ability to correctly read and interpret radiographs. With regards to infra-cranial radiographs, few studies have been conducted to explore the role of practitioner expertize on correct classification rates (CCRs). Here, we undertake two such studies using forensic anthropologists [American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA) certified, practicing but not board-certified anthropologists, and chest radiograph comparison (CXR) anthropologists trained via the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency CXR competency training program] and compare their results to novices. To ensure participants only referred to the same skeletal morphology, we cropped radiographs to single bones. An array of four simulated antemortem radiographs was presented to each assessor with each postmortem radiograph. Assessors evaluated arrays for a correct match, which was always present, yielding a 25% rate for random correct selections. Study 1 used anteroposterior C7, posteroanterior second metacarpal, and lateral calcaneus radiographs (three arrays each for nine arrays total), which yielded 86, 81, 69, and 68% mean CCRs for CXR experts, ABFA anthropologists, non-ABFA anthropologists and novices, respectively. Study 2 used anteroposterior C7 and left clavicles (three arrays each for six arrays total), yielding mean CCRs of 100, 96, and 84% for CXR experts, ABFA anthropologists and novices, respectively. As reflected by the CCRs, expertise is clearly a factor for radiographic comparisons, evident not just between novices and anthropologists, but also between anthropologists. We recommend all radiographic comparison analysts be subject to competency/proficiency tests prior to their engagement for forensic casework.

Humans generally comply with the ecological rule of Allen (1877), with populations from tropical environments exhibiting body proportions in which limb segments are long relative to trunk height compared to temperate groups. This study tests whether ecogeographic differences in intralimb proportions are identifiable among two modern fetal samples of differing ancestry. Data are derived from radiographic measurements of long bone diaphyseal length and crown-heel length (CHL) of contemporary, spontaneously aborted fetuses of African Americans ("black") of assumed African (tropical) ancestry and European Americans ("white") of assumed European (temperate) ancestry (n = 184). Population individual limb elements, brachial, and crural indices are compared via analyses of covariance (ANCOVA). Potential patterns of divergent allometric growth are quantified through principal components analysis (PCA). African ancestral distal limb elements were consistently, albeit slightly, longer than those of European ancestry, relative to CHL. None of the ANCOVA interactions with ancestry are statistically significant for limb indices. The radius was the only single element that displayed a statistically significant ancestry effect (p = 0.0435) equating to a 1 mm difference. PCA highlights that upper limbs demonstrate negative allometry and lower limbs demonstrate positive allometry with sample-specific multivariate growth patterns being nearly identical. Differences in growth allometry late in gestation make little contribution to observed differences in adult limb proportions. No statistically significant ecogeographic patterns were appreciated among intralimb proportions between these groups during the fetal period. This study contributes to a greater appreciation of phenotypic plasticity, ecogeographic variation in ontogeny, and the evolution of modern human diversity.

The Great Hungarian Plain was a crossroads of cultural transformations that have shaped European prehistory. Here we analyse a 5,000-year transect of human genomes, sampled from petrous bones giving consistently excellent endogenous DNA yields, from 13 Hungarian Neolithic, Copper, Bronze and Iron Age burials including two to high (~22 × ) and seven to ~1 × coverage, to investigate the impact of these on Europe’s genetic landscape. These data suggest genomic shifts with the advent of the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages, with interleaved periods of genome stability. The earliest Neolithic context genome shows a European hunter-gatherer genetic signature and a restricted ancestral population size, suggesting direct contact between cultures after the arrival of the first farmers into Europe. The latest, Iron Age, sample reveals an eastern genomic influence concordant with introduced Steppe burial rites. We observe transition towards lighter pigmentation and surprisingly, no Neolithic presence of lactase persistence.

This paper describes a computerized clavicle identification system primarily designed to resolve the identities of unaccounted-for U.S. soldiers who fought in the Korean War. Elliptical Fourier analysis is used to quantify the clavicle outline shape from skeletons and postero-anterior antemortem chest radiographs to rank individuals in terms of metric distance. Similar to leading fingerprint identification systems, shortlists of the top matching candidates are extracted for subsequent human visual assessment. Two independent tests of the computerized system using 17 field-recovered skeletons and 409 chest radiographs demonstrate that true-positive matches are captured within the top 5% of the sample 75% of the time. These results are outstanding given the eroded state of some field-recovered skeletons and the faintness of the 1950's photofluorographs. These methods enhance the capability to resolve several hundred cold cases for which little circumstantial information exists and current DNA and dental record technologies cannot be applied.

This case study illustrates the use of the date function on an automatic wristwatch to help identify a Vietnam War helicopter crash site. The location of a crash incident can sometimes be uncertain because of inadequate or inaccurate wartime records and the passage of time. Artifacts recovered from a prospective crash scene are regularly used to correlate the loss incident. In this case study, a recovered automatic watch displayed a date 2 days later than the reported loss incident. Although the date conflicts with the aircraft crash incident report, it is observed that a fully wound automatic watch continues to work for c. 2 days after movement of the watch ceases. Thus, the watch's date in fact correlates with the aircraft crash incident report. It is noted that automatic watches may also be used to date scenes of crime.

This study investigated the value of antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) radiographs of the claviculae and C3-T4 vertebrae to identify skeletons of missing U.S. soldiers from past military operations. In total, 12 field-recovered skeletons and AM chest radiographs of 1460 individuals were used. For each skeleton, examiners analyzed an array of AM chest radiographs (up to 1000 individuals) and attempted to identify the correct PM/AM radiographic match. When examiners were able to compare all images within a single test, only true-positive identifications were made. When AM radiographs were presented one-at-a-time, in sequential order, and without examiners having knowledge of array size, erroneous identifications resulted but they were almost exclusively made by untrained examiners (accuracy = 35% vs. 90% for trained examiners). This study demonstrates the value of chest radiographs for the identification of disarticulated and even eroded skeletons, but only when methods are wielded by trained examiners.

More than 2,000 samples of human osseous and dental materials drawn from forensic archaeological casework of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command Central Identification Laboratory (CIL) were submitted for mitochondrial DNA testing. Most cases represent unidentified remains of U.S. service personnel from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Ancient DNA sampling technique is discussed in the context of an overall strategy of minimizing the risk of contamination with exogenous DNA. Results achieved through implementation of this strategy are reviewed with the intent of providing historical archaeologists with data to assist them in deciding if human remains should be samples for DNA analyses and, if so, how to maximize the chances of an interpretable test outcome. Sample mass proved an important determinant of probability of successful DNA testing. Skeletal element sampled was also a determinant of success rate, independent of sample mass. Femora, tibiae, mandibles, and first metatarsals were excellent sample sources. Cranial samples had low rates of DNA recovery. Climate of deposition and recovery had a minor effect on success rate with temperate recoveries outperforming tropical recoveries in DNA testing success rates. Contrary to initial expectations, older samples performed better than younger samples. This inverse age effect is attributed to conflict-specific taphonomic processes. The lack of any detectable effect over the past 60 years suggests that as long as bones are well preserved and optimal elements well represented, aDNA testing will be relatively unproblematic over time spans of hundreds of years, certainly encompassing the entire time span considered by historical archaeologists.