Bone Differentiation (Human and Nonhuman) in Archaeological and Forensic Contexts

Introduction

Differentiating human and nonhuman bone has important applications in both archaeological and forensic contexts and can be particularly challenging when skeletal remains are fragmentary. Archaeologists often make initial determinations about whether skeletal remains are human or not in the field, although more detailed analyses often take place in the laboratory, particularly for bulk bone recovered during excavation. In cases where skeletal remains are found unexpectedly, one of the first questions in establishing whether the remains have forensic significance involves determining whether they are of human or nonhuman origin. Differentiating human and nonhuman bone can be achieved through a variety of methods, including gross, histological, and molecular analyses. More detailed reviews of these methods can be found in Hillier & Bell (2007), Mulhern (2009), and Mulhern & Ubelaker (2012).

Definition

Human bone is most likely to be confused with mammalian bone, particularly...