Forensic Anthropology: Foundations and Core Vocabulary

This easy-level mock covers the foundational vocabulary, core concepts, and essential techniques of forensic anthropology that every NFSU MSc and FACT candidate must master. All thirty questions are at the definitional level — covering the biological profile, skeletal sex determination, age estimation, stature, ancestry, trauma, taphonomy, and identification.

Questions cover: definition and scope of forensic anthropology (biological anthropology + osteology + medico-legal), the biological profile four components (sex + age + stature + ancestry), greater sciatic notch for sex determination (female = wide + shallow >68°; male = narrow + deep), taphonomy definition (all processes after death affecting remains; used for PMI and context), subpubic angle for sex determination (female >90°; male <90°), supraorbital ridge in skull sex determination (male = robust + projecting; female = gracile + flat), pubic symphysis for adult age estimation (billowing → flat → porous progression; Todd/Suchey-Brooks phases), stature estimation from long bones (femur + tibia most accurate; regression formulae; population-specific), MNI calculation from commingled remains (most frequent bone element accounting for side), perimortem trauma vs antemortem vs postmortem (perimortem = fresh bone = green bone fractures + no healing), gunshot skull bevelling (entry = small + internal bevelling; exit = large + external bevelling), blunt force skull fractures (radiating + concentric; sequencing by fracture stopping), sharp force trauma on bone (V-shaped kerf + clean incised margins; saw marks have parallel striations), medial clavicle epiphysis for age estimation (last major epiphysis to fuse at 22–30 years), Behrensmeyer weathering Stage 0 (fresh bone = greasy + no cracks), human vs non-human bone identification (gross morphology first; histology and DNA for fragments), ancestry estimation from skull (nasal aperture + orbital shape + prognathism + craniometrics; FORDISC), burned bone colour progression (black → grey → white/calcined at high temperature), femur as the preferred single bone for stature (longest bone; strongest correlation with height), forensic anthropology in mass disasters (MNI + biological profile + unique features + DVI coordination), cortical vs cancellous bone structure (dense outer shell vs porous lattice), ventral arc for female sex determination (diagonal ridge on front of pubic bone; absent in males), DNA from skeletal remains (petrous temporal bone + tooth roots = best preservation), cranial suture closure limitation (high individual variability; unreliable primary age indicator), auricular surface for adult age estimation (sacroiliac joint face; fine granular → coarse porous; Lovejoy 8 phases), sternal rib end for adult age estimation (pit deepens and erodes with age; İşcan phases 0–8), first determination when skeletal remains found (forensic vs archaeological significance), carnivore scavenging modifications (pitting + scoring + gnaw marks + crushed metaphyses + scatter), iliac crest apophysis fusion for age estimation (fuses 20–25 years; unfused = under 25), forensic facial reconstruction (tissue depth pegs + probabilistic approximation; investigative leads only; not positive identification), and os coxae anatomy (ilium + ischium + pubis fusing at acetabulum by 15–17 years).

Topics covered:

• Core concepts: definition, biological profile, taphonomy, forensic vs archaeological significance
• Sex determination: greater sciatic notch, subpubic angle, ventral arc, supraorbital ridge
• Age estimation: pubic symphysis, clavicle epiphysis, iliac crest, auricular surface, rib sternal end, cranial sutures
• Stature and ancestry: femur priority, regression formulae, skull craniometrics, FORDISC
• Trauma analysis: perimortem vs antemortem vs postmortem, gunshot bevelling, blunt force fractures, sharp force kerfs, burned bone
• Identification methods: MNI, DNA from bone, facial reconstruction, carnivore scavenging
• Anatomy: os coxae, cortical vs cancellous bone

Each question cites Byers' Introduction to Forensic Anthropology 5th edition. Allow 30 minutes.