Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Determination of Adult Age at Death in the Forensic Context

  • Chapter
Forensic Anthropology and Medicine

Abstract

Age-at-death assessment faces biological and methodological problems. Age-related processes show great variation, both within and between populations. However, in forensic contexts, this parameter is crucial for identification, and both accuracy and reliability are required. Rather than proposing a list of various methods, the aim of this chapter is to suggest the most appropriate methods according to the indicators available for each case. The advantages and limits of the techniques presented are discussed. When most appropriate indicators are not available, the authors recommend avoiding age-atdeath estimation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Ritz-Timme, S., Cattaneo, C., Collins, M. J., et al. Age estimation: the state of the art in relation to the specific demand of forensic practice. Int. J. Legal. Med. 113:129–136, 2000.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Boismenu, L., Bertolotti, C., Salerio, G., Baccino, E. L’identification Médico légale anthropologique, bilan d’activité autopsique du service de médecine légale de Montpellier au cours des années 1997-2001 [in French]. Presented at the 3rd Congress of Medico-Legal Anthropology, Nice, France, November 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Tood, T. W. Age changes in the pubic bone. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 4:1–70, 1921.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lovejoy, C. O., Meindl, R. S., Prysbeck, T. R., Mensforth, R. P. Chronological metamorphosis of the auricular surface of the ilium: a new method for the determination of adult skeletal age at death. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 68:15–28, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Walker, R. A., Lovejoy, C. O. Radiographic changes in the clavicule and proximal femur and their use in the determination of skeletal age at death. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 68:67–78, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Schmitt, A., Murail, P., Cunha, E., Rougé, D. Variability of the pattern of aging on the human skeleton: evidence from bone indicators and implications on age at death estimation. J. Forensic Sci. 47:1203–1209, 2002.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Schmitt, A. Estimation de l’âge au décés des adultes: des raisons d’espérer [in French]. Bull. Mem. Soc. Anthropol. Paris 14:51–73, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ubelaker, D. K. Human Skeletal Remains: Excavation, Analysis, Interpretation, 3rd Ed. Taraxacum, Washington, D.C., 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bass, W. M. Human Osteology: a Laboratory and Field Manual of the Human Skeleton. Special publication. Missouri Archeological Society, Columbia, MO, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rose, M. R. Evolutionary Biology of Aging. Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Harper, G. J., Crews, D. E. Aging, senescence, and human variation. In: Stinson, S., Bogin, B., Huss-Ashmore, R., O’Rourke, D., eds., Human Biology: an Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspective. Wiley-Liss, New York, NY, pp. 465–505, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Jackes, M. Building the bases for paleodemographic analysis:adult age determination. In: Katzenberg, M. A., Saunders, S. R., eds., Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton. Wiley-Liss, New York, NY, pp. 417–466, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Katz, D., Suchey, J. M. Races differences in pubic symphyseal aging patterns in the male. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 80:167–172, 1989.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Murray, K. A., Murray, T. A test of the auricular surface aging technique. J. Forensic Sci. 36:1162–1169, 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Saunders, S. R., Fitzgerald, C., Rogers. T., Dudar, C., McKillop, H. A test of several methods of skeletal age estimation using a documented archaelogical sample. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. 25:97–118, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Schmitt, A. Age at death assessment using the os pubis and the auricular surface of the ilium: a test on an identified Asian sample. Int. J. Osteoarcheol. 14:1–6, 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Schmitt, A., Murail, P. Is the first rib a reliable age indicator of age at death assessment? Test of the method elaborated by Kunos et al. (1999). Homo. 54:207–214, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ubelaker, D. H. Methodological consideration in the forensic applications of human skeletal biology. In: Katzenberg, M. A., Saunders, S. R., eds., Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton. Wiley-Liss, New York, NY, pp. 41–67, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Baccino, E., Tavernier, J. C., Lamendin, H., Frammery, D., Nossintchouk, R, Humbert, J. F. Recherche d’une méthode multifactorielle simple pour la détermination de l’âge des cadavres adultes [in French]. J. Med. Leg. Droit Med. 34:27–33, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Baccino, E., Zerilli, A. The two-step strategy or the right way to combine a dental (Lamendin) and an anthropological (Suchey-Brooks System) method for age determination. Proc. Am. Acad. Forensic Sci. 3:150, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Suchey, J. M., Katz, D. Age determination of the male pubic bones. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 69:269, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Brooks, S., Suchey, J. M. Skeletal age determination based on the os pubis: a comparison of the Acsadi-Nemeskeri and Suchey-Brooks methods. Hum. Evol. 5:227–238, 1990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Bocquet-Appel, J. P., Maia Neto, M. A., Tavares da Rocha, M. A., Xavier de Morais, M. H. Estimation de l’âge au décés des squelettes d’adultes par regressions multiples [in Portuguese]. Contrib. Estudo Antropol. Port. 10:107–167, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Meindl, R. S., Lovejoy, C. O., Mensforth, R. P., Walker, R. A. A revised method of age determination using the os pubis, with a review and tests of accuracy of other current methods of pubic symphyseal aging. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 68:29–45, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Prince, D. A., Ubelaker, D. H. Application of Lamendin’s adult dental aging technique to a diverse skeletal sample. J. Forensic Sci. 47:107–116, 2002.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. I¸scan, M. Y., Loth, S. Osteological manifestation of age in the adult. In: I¸scan, M. Y., Kennedy, K. A. R., eds., Reconstruction of Life from the Skeleton. Wiley-Liss, New York, NY, pp. 23–40, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Russel, K. F., Simpson, S. W., Genovese, J., Kinkel, M. D., Meindl, R. S., Lovejoy, C. O. Independent test of fourth rib aging technique. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 92:53–62, 1993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Meindl, R. S., Russel, K. F. Recent advances in method and theory in paleodemography. Annu. Rev. Anthropol. 27:375–399, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. McKern, R. W., Stewart, T. D. Skeletal age changes in young American males. Technical report EP45, Environmental Protection Division, US Army Quartermaster Research and Development Center, Natick, MA, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Baccino, E., Coat, J. P., Masse, R., Develay-le Gueut, M. A. Problémes d’identification posés par un cadavre momifié: intérêt de l’utilisation des kits osseux SUCHEYBROOKS [in French]. J. Med. Leg. Droit Med. 32:267–271, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Gustafson, G. Age determination of teeth. J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 41:45–54, 1950.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Maples, W. R., Rices, P. M. Some difficulties in the Gustafson dental age estimations. J. Forensic Sci. 24:168–172, 1979.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Nkhumeleni, F. S., Raubenheimer, E., Monteith, B. D. Gustafson’s method for age determination revised. J. Forensic Odontostomatol. 7:13–16, 1989.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Lucy, D., Pollard. A. M. Further comments on the estimation of error associated with the Gustafson dental age estimation Method. J. Forensic Sci. 40:222–227, 1995.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Lamendin, H. Determination de l’age avec la méthode de Guftason “simplifiée” [in French] Chir. Dent. Fr. 58:43–47, 1988.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Lamendin, H., Baccino, E., Humbert. J. F., Tavernier, J. C., Nossintchouk, R., Zerilli, A. A simple technique for age estimation in adult corpses: the two criteria dental method. J. Forensic Sci. 37:1373–1379, 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Willems, G., Moulin-Romsee, C., Solheim, T. Non-destructive dental-age calculation methods in adults: intra-and inter-observer effects. Forensic Sci. Int. 126:221–226, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Prince, D. A., Konigsberg, L. W. New formulae for estimating age in the Balkans utilizing Lamendin’s dental technique. Proceedings of the 56th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 16-21 February 2003, Dallas, TX. p. 279, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Soomer, H., Ranta, H., Lincoln, M. J., Pentilla, A., Leibur, E. Reliability and validity of eight dental age estimation methods for adults used in forensic odontology. J. Forensic Sci. 48:149–152, 2003.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Foti, B., Adalian, P., Signoli, M., Ardagna, O., Dutour, O., Leonetti. G. Limits of the Lamendin method in age determination. Forensic Sci. Int. 122:101–106, 2001.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Baccino, E., Ubelaker, D. H., Hayek, L., Zerilli, A. Evaluation of seven methods of estimating age at death from mature human skeletal remains. J. Forensic Sci. 44:39–44, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Konigsberg, L. W. Local standards vs. informative priors in applied forensic anthropology. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 16 February 2004, Dallas, TX, p. 276.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Chamberlain, A. Problems and prospects in paleodemography. In: Cox, M., May, S., eds., Human Osteology in Archeology and Forensic Science. Greenwich Medical Media, London, pp. 101–115, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Berg, G. E., Kimmerle, E. Aging the elderly: a new look at an old method. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 16 February 2004, Dallas, TX, p. 277.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Owing Webb, P. A., Suchey, J. M. Epiphyseal union of the anterior iliac crest and medial clavicule in a modern multiracial sample. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 68:457–466, 1985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Scoles, P. V., Salvagno, R., Villalba, K., Riew, D. Relationship of iliac crest maturation to skeletal and chronologic age. J. Pediatr. Orthop. 8:639–644, 1988.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Risser, J. C. Important practical facts in the treatment of scoliosis. AAOS Instructional Course Lectures. V:248–2690, 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Flecker, H. Roentgenographic observations of the times of appearance of epiphyses and their fusion with the diaphyses. J. Anat. 67:118–164, 1933.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Galstaun, G. A study of ossification as observed in Indian subjects. Indian J. Med. Res. 25:267–324, 1937.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Ji, L., Terazawa, K., Tsukamoto, T., Haga, K. Estimation of age from epiphyseal union degrees of the sternal end of the clavicle [in Japanese]. Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi 69:104–111, 1994.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Jit, I., Kulkarni, M. Times of appearance and fusion of epiphysis at the medial end of the clavicle. Indian J. Med. Res. 64:773–782, 1976.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Kreitner, K. F., Schweden, F. J., Riepert, T., Nafe, B., Thelen, M. Bone age determination based on the study of the medial extremity of the clavicle. Musculoskelet. Radiol. 8:1116–1122, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  53. MacLaughlin, S. M. Epiphyseal fusion at the sternal end of the clavicle in a modern Portuguese skeletal sample. Antropol. Port. 8:59–68, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Stevenson, P. H. Age order of epiphyseal union in man. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 7:53–93, 1924.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Szilvassy, J. Age determination on the sternal articular faces of the clavicula. J. Hum. Evol. 9:609–610, 1980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Todd, T. W., D’Errico, J. The clavicular epiphyses. Am. J. Anat. 41:25–50, 1928.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. I¸scan, M. Y., Loth, S. R., Wright, R-K. Age estimation from the rib phase analysis: white males. J. Forensic Sci. 29:1094–1104, 1984.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. I¸scan, M. Y., Loth, S. R., Wright, R. K. Age estimation from the rib phase analysis: white females. J. Forensic Sci. 30:853–863, 1985.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. I¸scan, M. Y., Loth, S. R., Wright, R. K. Racial variation in the sternal extremity of the rib an its effect on age determination. J. Forensic Sci. 32:452–466, 1987.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Yoder, C., Ubelaker, D. H., Powell, J. F. Examination of variation in sternal rib end morphology relevant to age assessment. J. Forensic Sci. 46:223–227, 2001.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Baccino, E., Souaiby, N., Vergnes, M. D. Evaluation of the I¸scan method for age determination from the sternal end of the fourth rib on a French forensic male sample Adult Age at Death 279 (n = 131): results and propositions of modifications. Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 52nd annual meeting, Reno, NV, 2000, p. 234.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Baccino, E., Cuesta Tormo, M. C., Souaiby, N., et al. Evaluation of the I¸scan method for age determination from the sternal end of the fourth rib on a French forensic male sample (n = 131) and a Spanish forensic female sample (n = 168): results and propositions of modifications. Indopacific Association of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Melbourne, Australia, September 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Dudar, J. C., Pfeiffer, S., Saunders, S. R. Evaluation of morphological and histological adult skeletal age-at-death estimation techniques using ribs. J. Forensic Sci. 38:677–685, 1993.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Meindl, R. S., Lovejoy, C. O. Ectocranial suture closure: a revised method for the determination of skeletal age at death based on the lateral-anterior sutures. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 68:57–66, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Masset, C. Où en est la paléodémographie [in French]? Bull Mem. Soc. Anthropol. Paris 2:109–122, 1990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Wittwer-Backofen, U., Campe, J., Vaupel, J. W. Tooth cementum annulation for age estimation: results from a large known age validation study. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 123:119–129, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Drusini, A. G., Toso, O., Ranzato, C. The coronal pulp cavity index: a biomarker for age determination in human adults. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 103:353–363, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Usher, B. M., Boldsen, J. J., Holman, D. Age estimation at Tirup Cemetery: an application of the transition analysis method. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 30:S307, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Buckberry, J. L., Chamberlain, A. Age Estimation from the auricular surface of the ilium: a revised method. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 119:231–329, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Boldsen, J. L., Milner, G. R., Konisberg, L. W., Wood, J. W. Transition analysis: a new method for estimating age from skeletons. In: Hoppa, R. D., Vaupel, J. W., eds., Paleodemography: Age Distribution from Skeletal Samples. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 73–106, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Schmitt, A., Broqua, C. Approche probabiliste pour estimer l’âge au décés a partir de la surface auriculaire de l’ilium [in French]. Bull. Mem. Soc. Anthropol. Paris 12:279–301, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Debono, L., Mafart, B., Guipert, G., Jeusel, E. Application pratique de la méthode d’estimation de l’âge au décés de Schmitt et Broqua (2000) [in French]. Bull. Mem. Soc. Anthropol. Paris 16:115–120, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Schmitt, A. Une nouvelle méthode pour estimer l’âge au décés des adultes à partir de la surface sacro-pelvienne iliaque [in French]. Bull. Mem. Soc. Anthropol. Paris 17:89–101, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  74. Acsadi, G., Nemeskeri, J. The complex method. In: Acsàdi, G., Nemeskeri, J., eds., Human Life Span and Mortality. Akadémiai Kiado, Budapest, pp. 122–135, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Thomas, C. D. L., Stein, M. S., Feik, S. A., Wark, J. D., Clement, J. G. Determination of age at death using combined morphology and histology of the femur. J. Anat. 196:463–471, 2000.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Kerley, E. R., Ubelaker, D. H. Revisions in the microscopic method of estimating age at death in human cortical bone. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 49:545–546, 1978.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Ericksen MF. Histological estimation of age at death using the anterior cortex of the femur. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 84:171–179, 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Stout, S. D., Paine, R. R. Brief communication: histological age estimation using rib and clavicule. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 87:111–115, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Iwaniec, U. T., Crenshaw, T. D., Shoeninger, M. J., Stout, S. D., Ericksen, M. F. Methods for improving the efficiency of estimating total osteon density in the human anterior mid-diaphyseal femur. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 107:13–24, 1998.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Cho, H., Stout, S. D., Madsen, R. W., Streeter, M. A. Population-specific histological age-estimating method: a model for known African-American and European-American skeletal remains. J. Forensic Sci. 47:12–18, 2002.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Stout, S. D. Histomophometric analysis of human skeletal remains. In: Iscan, M. Y., Kenneth, A. R., eds., Reconstruction of Life from the Skeleton. Wiley-Liss, New York, NY, pp. 41–52, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  82. Lynnerup, N., Thomsen, J. L., Frohlich, B. Intra-and inter-observer variation in histological criteria used in age at death determination based on femoral cortical bone. Forensic Sci. Int. 91:219–230, 1998.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Wallin, J. A., Tzock, I., Kristensen, G. Microscopic age determination of human skeletons including an unknown but calculable variable. Int. J. Osteoarchaeol. 4:353–362, 1994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  84. Aykroyd, R. G., Lucy, D., Pollard, A. M., Solheim, T. Technical note: regression analysis in adult age estimation. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 104:259–265, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Rősing, F. W., Kvall, S. I. Dental age in adults: a review of estimation methods. In: Rősing, F. W., Teschler-Nicola, M. eds., Dental Anthropology, Fundamentals, Limits, and Prospects. Springer, New York, NY, pp. 443–468, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Médecine Légale, CHU Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France

    Eric Baccino

  2. UMR 5199, PACEA, Laboratoire d’Anthropologie des Populations du Passé, Université Bordeaux 1, Talence, France

    Aurore Schmitt

Authors
  1. Eric Baccino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aurore Schmitt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Anthropologie des Populations du Passé, Université Bordeaux 1, Talence, France

    Aurore Schmitt PhD

  2. Departamento de Antropologia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Eugénia Cunha PhD

  3. Serviço Tanatologia Forense, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal, Coimbra, Portugal

    João Pinheiro MD, MSci

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Baccino, E., Schmitt, A. (2006). Determination of Adult Age at Death in the Forensic Context. In: Schmitt, A., Cunha, E., Pinheiro, J. (eds) Forensic Anthropology and Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-099-7_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-099-7_11

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-824-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-099-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation