Determining Human Age at Death Using Cremated Bone Microstructure

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Determining Human Age at Death Using Cremated Bone Microstructure

Journal Title: Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR) - Year 2017, Vol 1, Issue 3

Abstract

For age determination of cremated bones of variable stages of preservation the method of Kerley and Ubelaker [1] was chosen. As a new criterion to determine individual age the lamina fundamental is internal of the compact bone was used [2]. Examinations of the intact osteons of individuals from Roman graveyards show that after cremation at temperatures between 450 and 650°C age determination is possible only by counting central haversian canals. At this temperature level, a qualitative age determination is limited. The examination of modern postmortem bones indicates that the four criteria defined by Kerley [3] are necessary to determine the physiological age of cremated human bone specimens with different burning degrees more precisely and that the lamina fundamental is internal should be included as an additional criterion.The physiological age of a cremated human being can only be elucidated from the skeletal maturity state of the individual, and represents not more than a rough estimation. According to the classification by Martin [4], bones of adult cremated individuals are classified at age intervals of twenty years or with a minimum age, if there are no other indication factors. The age diagnosis of children has its starting point in the dentition and the mineral content of the milk teeth. Furthermore the change to permanent dentition before the eruption of the second permanent molar at the age of twelve is a reliable indicator of age. It has to be taken into account that the growth of the epiphyses is regulated by hormones and differs between males and females. On average the epiphyses of females fuse at an age between 18 and 20, and of males between 20 and 22. As far as histomorphometric age determination is concerned, various methods have been published [4-8]. These methods are based either on the determination of osteons and osteon fragments per unit area by counting the number of osteons. However, difficulties do occur with cremated specimens if the applicability of a method is dependent on a very precise distinction of single structural elements, such as intact or fragmented osteons. Especially the methods of Ahlquist and Damsten and Drusini deal with these difficulties. The objective of the present study was to gain a more precise determination of age by using a histomorphometric method as an additional criterion. Only Kerley`s method employes two more criteria, the non-haversian canals and the lamina fundamentalis externa, therefore this method was used in the present study.

Authors and Affiliations

M Wolf, B Streit

Keywords

Cremated Bones; Chronological Age; Field Size; Haversian and Non-Haversian Canals; Lamina Fundamentalis Interna and Externa; Macroscopic Age; Microscopic; Histomorphometric Age; Osteon Fragments; Physiologial Age

EP ID EP572638
DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2017.01.000304
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