Anthropometry
Definition
The measurement of the human body for scientific purposes. In forensic history, the Bertillon system of criminal anthropometry used eleven standardised body measurements to identify repeat offenders before fingerprinting.
- Created
- 1879 by Alphonse Bertillon
- Measurements used
- 11 standardized body dimensions
- Replaced by
- Fingerprinting (after 1903)
Common questions
What was Bertillon's anthropometry system and how did it work?+
Alphonse Bertillon created a system in 1879 that used 11 standardized body measurements to identify repeat criminal offenders. Before fingerprinting became standard, it was the main way police matched suspects to previous arrests.
Why is the Will West case famous in forensic history?+
In 1903, two unrelated men named Will West were found to have identical anthropometric measurements. This landmark case exposed the system's fatal flaw: body measurements alone could not reliably identify individuals. It proved the need for a more precise identification method, leading to the adoption of fingerprinting.
Is anthropometry still used in modern forensics?+
The Bertillon system as a primary identification method was discarded after 1903. Body measurement for scientific purposes remains a broader concept in forensic science, but the criminal identification system Bertillon built was replaced by fingerprinting.
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Explained in these topics
- Forensic Science: Definition, History, Scope and EthicsBertillon's 1879 system of 11 body measurements used to identify repeat offenders. Replaced after the 1903 Will West case showed two unrelated men shared ident...
- Forensic Science: Definition, Principles, History and EthicsBertillon's 1879 system of 11 body measurements used to identify repeat offenders. Discarded after the 1903 Will West case.
- A Short History of Forensic ScienceThe measurement of the human body for scientific purposes. In forensic history, the Bertillon system of criminal anthropometry used eleven standardised body me...