Explore the vast range of titles available.

Three-dimensional (3D) structured light scanning is a beneficial documentation technique in forensic anthropology because such models facilitate continued analysis and data sharing; they can also be 3D printed for demonstrative purposes in legal proceedings and training, without risk of damage to the original skeletal material. As its application in forensic anthropology is relatively novel, the aim of the present study is to statistically evaluate the dimensional accuracy of 3D structured light scans and 3D prints for ten bone types, including the cranium, mandible, 2nd cervical vertebra (C2), clavicle, scapula, capitate, 2nd metacarpal, os coxae, femoral head, and patella. Standard linear measurements are acquired in each physical bone, 3D virtual model, and 3D print of the same bone specimen. Variances between measurements of physical, virtual, and printed bones are quantified using the technical error of measurement (TEM), relative TEM (rTEM), and coefficient of reliability (R). Measurements acquired in the virtual models and prints were found to be within ±2 mm average of the same measurements in the physical bones, with a tendency to underestimate true value. rTEM and R values for the virtual clavicle, capitate, scapula and C2, and rTEM for the printed clavicle and capitate, were comparatively less reliable than for other bone types; although all bones were reproduced to within acceptable anthropological error standards (rTEM≤5 %; R≥0.95). This study reaffirms the use of 3D structured light scanning and 3D printing to complement traditional skeletal documentation in forensic anthropology. •Forensic methods require measures of accuracy and precision.•Compared linear measurements from physical bones, 3D surface scans and 3D prints.•Virtual models and prints within ±2 mm average accuracy of physical human bones.•Minimal differences in accuracy between ten different bone types.•Supports application of 3D scanning and printing in forensic anthropology.

Virtual Anthropology (VA) transposes the traditional methods of physical anthropology to virtual environments using imaging techniques and exploits imaging technologies to devise new methodological protocols. In this research, we investigate whether the measurements used in the Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste (DSP) and Ischio-Pubic Index (IPI) differ significantly when 3D models of a bone are generated using 3D surface scans (3DSS) and Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) scans. Thirty pelvises were selected from the SIMON identified skeletal collection. An equal ratio of females to males was sought, as well as a good preservation of the bones. The pelvises were scanned using an MDCT scanner and a 3D surface scanner. The measurements of the DSP and IPI methods on the dry bones (referred to as macroscopic measurements here), and then to the 3D models. The intra- and interobserver, using the Technical Error of Measurement (TEM) and relative Technical Error of Measurement (rTEM) error was assessed, and we aimed to observe if the measurements made on the MDCT and 3DSS generated models were significantly different from those taken on the dry bones. Additionally, the normality of the data was tested (Shapiro-Wilk test) and the differences in measurements was evaluated using parametric (Student t-tests) and non-parametric (Wilcoxon) tests. The TEM and rTEM calculations show high intra and interobserver consistency in general. However, some measurements present insufficient inter- and intraobserver agreement. Student t and Wilcoxon tests indicate potentially significant differences of some measurements between the different environments. The results show that especially in the virtual environment, it is not easy to find the right angle for some of the DSP measurements, However, when comparing the measurement differences between dry and virtual bones, the results show that most of the differences are less than or equal to 2.5 mm. Considering the IPI, the landmarks are already difficult to determine on the dry bone, but they are even more difficult to locate in the virtual environment. Nevertheless, this study shows that quantitative methods may be better suited for application in the virtual environment, but further research using different methods is needed. •Methodologies used in the forensic context need to be proven to be accurate and reliable.•The possibility to re-examine data makes virtual data an important tool in forensic anthropology analysis.•This research compared the measurements taken on pelvises in three different “environments”.•The results show that the DSP measurements seem to be well suited for use in virtual environments.•Conclusions suggest that clearly identifiable landmarks are best suited for application in virtual environments.

Forensic anthropologists are often confronted with human remains that have been damaged due to trauma, fire, or postmortem taphonomic alteration, frequently resulting in the fracture and fragmentation of skeletal elements. The augmented reality (AR) technology introduced in this paper builds on familiar 3D visualization methods and utilizes them to make three dimensional holographic meshes of skeletal fragments that can be manipulated, tagged, and examined by the user. Here, CT scans, neural radiance fields (NeRF) artificial intelligence software, and Unreal Engine production software are utilized to construct a three-dimensional holographic image that can be manipulated with HoloLens™ technology to analyze the fracture margin and reconstruct craniofacial elements without causing damage to fragile remains via excessive handling. This allows forensic anthropologists a means of assessing aspects of the biological profile and traumatic injuries without risking further damage to the skeleton. It can also be utilized by students and professional anthropologists to practice refitting before reconstructing craniofacial fragments if refitting is necessary. Additionally, the holographic images can be used to explain complicated concepts in a courtroom without the emotional response related to using bony elements as courtroom exhibits. •Craniofacial reconstruction aids with the biological profile and signs of trauma.•CT-based AR craniofacial reconstruction can reduce bone damage from overhandling.•Neural resonance fields (NeRF) can rapidly convert CT scans into AR visual content.•AR visualization minimizes damage from manual manipulation.•AR allows the viewer to assess the skeleton in three rather than two dimensions.

Estimating biological sex is an essential tool for studying past population dynamics and cultural behaviour. Typically, it is not performed in non-adults before the onset of puberty, limiting the knowledge that can be gained from immature skeletal remains. This study used three-dimensional (3D) geometric morphometrics (GM) to examine sexual dimorphism and assess its effectiveness in estimating biological sex in infants aged 0–6 years using the auricular surface of the ilium. This approach was tested with 46 individuals (20 females and 26 males) from the Lisbon Identified Skeletal Collection. All specimens were digitised, and standard GM analysis was conducted. Apparent sex-related morphological differences in the auricular surface were observed in infants under one year, although these did not reach statistical significance at α = 0.05. Such differences were not identified in older individuals. These findings suggest that the auricular surface may potentially serve as a sex indicator in infants under one year, whereas sexual dimorphism appears to decrease in older individuals. This study demonstrates the potential of employing 3D GM for sex estimation in non-adult skeletal remains. Further research should explore additional iliac features for infant sex estimation, incorporate larger and more diverse samples, and potentially include Artificial Intelligence techniques.

This study reports on early Eurasian evidence of artificial cranial modification (ACM) in a Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP) individual (AC12) from Arene Candide Cave, Italy (ca. 12,620–12,190 Cal BP). We used virtual anthropology and geometric morphometrics to compare AC12’s cranial morphology with LUP, Mesolithic, and Neolithic Italian specimens, pathologically modified individuals, and a global sample of ACM cases. Our analyses consistently demonstrate a strong affinity between AC12 and the ACM group, distinct from other comparative samples. Statistical analyses confirm AC12 as a clear outlier for non-ACM groups, with high probabilities of belonging to the ACM cluster. This discovery provides evidence suggesting an earlier origin of ACM on the continent, confirming that this globally distributed practice has Palaeolithic roots. Situated within a complex LUP funerary site, this finding illuminates the deep antiquity of culturally mediated body modification and its role in signifying ascribed identity within ancient hunter-gatherer societies.

In forensic commingled contexts, when the disarticulation occurs uniquely at the atlantoaxial joint, the correct match of atlas and axis may lead to the desirable assembly of the entire body. Notwithstanding the importance of this joint in such scenarios, no study has so far explored three-dimensional (3D) methodologies to match these two adjoining bones. In the present study, we investigated the potential of re-associating atlas and axis through 3D–3D superimposition by testing their articular surfaces congruency in terms of point-to-point distance (Root Mean Square, RMS). We analysed vertebrae either from the same individual (match) and from different individuals (mismatch). The RMS distance values were assessed for both groups (matches and mismatches) and a threshold value was determined to discriminate matches with a sensitivity of 100%. The atlas and the corresponding axis from 41 documented skeletons (18 males and 23 females), in addition to unpaired elements (the atlas or the axis) from 5 individuals, were superimposed, resulting in 41 matches and 1851 mismatches (joining and non-joining elements). No sex-related significant differences were found in matches and mismatches (p = 0.270 and p = 0.210, respectively), allowing to pool together the two sexes in each group. RMS values ranged between 0.41 to 0.77 mm for matches and between 0.37 and 2.18 mm for mismatches. Significant differences were found comparing the two groups (p < 0.001) and the highest RMS of matches (0.77 mm) was used as the discriminative value that provided a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 41%. In conclusion, the 3D–3D superimposition of the atlanto-axial articular facets cannot be considered as a re-association method per se, but rather as a screening one. However, further research on the validation of the 3D approach and on its application to other joints might provide clues to the complex topic of the reassociation of crucial adjoining bones.

Despite an extensive number of existing methods, age estimation of human remains is still an unsolved matter in the field of forensic anthropology, especially when it comes to mature adults. The specific aim of this work was to propose a combined method for age estimation, for forensic purposes, by coupling the Suchey–Brooks method and the measure of the pubic bone density. For this purpose, we used an independent test sample comprising 339 CT scans of living individuals aged 15 to 99 years old. Measurement of bone density and staging according to the Suchey–Brooks phases were performed, followed by estimation of ages based on a combined method and an existing virtual reference sample. Results highlighted a significant negative correlation between bone density and age. Good accuracy was obtained for the measurement of pubic bone density for age estimation of men and women, especially concerning mature adults, with an absolute error ranging from 9 to 16 years for all individuals. The authors propose a practical combined method consisting of, first, allocating phases according to the scannographic approach of the Suchey–Brooks method. For phases I to IV, the age estimation is given using the Suchey–Brooks method. For phases V to VI, the pubic bone density measurement is used. Further study will be needed to assess the reproducibility of these results on cadavers and dry bones, as the post-mortem process could interfere with the measurement of mineral bone density.

Frontal bone morphology is considered informative concerning phylogenetic and taxonomic affinities in hominin fossils. However, evaluating individual frontal bone features, especially macroscopically and with qualitative data, can produce contradictory results. One example is the enigmatic frontal bone from Hahnöfersand, Germany, initially dated to ca. 36 ka. A previous description of this specimen found that it exhibits a mix of modern human- and Neanderthal-like features and interpreted it as a potential hybrid between Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens . In this case study, we apply a nearly landmark-free technique (i.e., surface registration) to reassess Hahnöfersand’s supposed intermediate morphology in the context of a revised chronology of ca. 7.5 ka. A three-dimensional comparative analysis was conducted using a dataset of Neanderthals, Middle Pleistocene European hominins, and a diverse Homo sapiens sample. Principal components analysis, Mahalanobis distances, and pairwise Procrustes distances place Hahnöfersand within the variability of Holocene Homo sapiens , with no evidence of intermediate morphology. These findings support Hahnöfersand’s attribution to recent Homo sapiens and highlight the efficacy of the surface registration method for morphological assessments of taxonomy in isolated fragmentary remains, where interpretation is driven entirely by the preserved morphology and, if available, dating.