New Method of Identifying Family Related Skulls: Forensic Medicine, Anthropology, Epigenetics

ISBN-13: 9783709172070 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 243 str.

Zvonka Zupanic Slavec; G. Hauser; E. Strouhal

Opis

In spite of the current feelings that today only molecular DNA analysis is the exact identification method - and that, if DNA cannot be isolated, it might be better to give up the identification - the author has used for the same purpose older, classical methods from physical anthropology to forensic medicine and especially a recent method of comparison of epigenetic traits, which proved to be very useful for identification of the family related skulls in connection with historical, genealogical and other data. These multidisciplinary methods can serve the same purpose as the reference method and can be applied in similar cases all over the world. The monograph presents the identification of 18 collectively interred skulls, supposedly belonging to the Counts of Celje (15th c.), and to family members, who lived on the territory of present-day Slovenia. Their kinship is established by comparison of X-ray images of paranasal cavities (frontal and maxillary sinuses, and also orbital and nasal cavities), the shape and size of which are autosomal dominant inherited characters. The comparison also extends to numerous other, likewise inherited, epigenetic trait similarities on the skulls. This work will be an invaluable guide for the identification and verification of kinship by skulls collectively interred (in family vaults), where isolation of DNA is no longer possible, even though the skeletal remains may not be old. This work based on the latest epigenetic research, is highly relevant for modern non-genetic identification studies. It is highly recommended to: scientists working on human identification and studying heredity, forensic scientists, physical anthropologists, radiologists, stomatologists, paleopathologists, geneticists, historians and many others.

Spis treści

1. Introduction.- 2. Scientific Hypotheses.- 3. Methodology of Work.- 3.1. Historiographic methods.- 3.1.1. History of the Counts of Celje.- 3.1.2. From biographies of the Counts of Celje.- 3.2. Identification methods.- 3.2.1. Use of identification methods for determining gender by skulls.- 3.2.1.1. Morphological characters for determining gender.- 3.2.1.2. Determining gender by anthropometrie methods and indices.- 3.2.1.3. Determining gender by forensic-dental methods.- 3.2.2. Use of identification methods for determining age by skull.- 3.2.2.1. Determining age by obliteration of the endocranial sutures.- 3.2.2.2. Determining age considering obliteration of the ectocranial sutures.- 3.2.2.3. Determining age by X-ray methods.- 3.2.2.4. Determining age by forensic-dental methods.- 3.2.2.5. Determining age by radioactive carbon 14C.- 3.2.3. Use of identification methods for determining cause of illness by skull.- 3.2.3.1. Paleopathological methods.- 3.2.4. Use of identification methods for determining family linkage between skulls.- 3.2.4.1. Genetic methods.- 3.2.4.2. Epigenetic methods.- 3.2.4.2.1. Comparison of the facial cavities.- 3.2.4.2.2. Other epigenetic traits.- 3.2.5. Art history methods for reconstructing soft facial parts.- 4 RESULTS.- 4.1. Historiographic results.- 4.1.1. Genealogical and biographical data for those presumably buried in the family vault.- 4.1.2. Historically expected interments in the family vault.- 4.1.2.1. Interment chronology of male members of the family of the Counts of Celje.- 4.1.2.2. Interment chronology of female members of the family of the Counts of Celje.- 4.1.2.3. Common interment chronology of all members of the family.- 4.1.3. Anticipated age of the interred in the family vault.- 4.1.4. Members of the family, interred elsewhere.- 4.2. Identification results.- 4.2.1. Gender, age and illnesses by skulls 1–18.- 4.2.1.1. Skull 1.- 4.2.1.2. Skull 2.- 4.2.1.3. Skull 3.- 4.2.1.4. Skull 4.- 4.2.1.5. Skull 5.- 4.2.1.6. Skull 6.- 4.2.1.7. Skull 7.- 4.2.1.8. Skull 8.- 4.2.1.9. Skull 9.- 4.2.1.10. Skull 10.- 4.2.1.11. Skull 11.- 4.2.1.12. Skull 12.- 4.2.1.13. Skull 13.- 4.2.1.14. Skull 14.- 4.2.1.15. Skull 15.- 4.2.1.16. Skull 16.- 4.2.1.17. Skull 17.- 4.2.1.18. Skull 18.- 4.2.2. Final review of gender and age of the studied skulls 1–18.- 4.3. Comparison of the historical and identificational results.- 4.3.1. Principle for numbering of the skulls.- 4.3.2. Vault of the Counts of Celje.- 4.4. Results on kinship.- 4.4.1. The family of Friedrich I (skulls 5, 7, 1 and 6).- 4.4.2. The family of Hermann I of Celje (skulls 6, 4 and 2).- 4.4.3. The family of Ulrich I of Celje (skulls 7, 3 and 8).- 4.4.4. The family of Friedrich II of Celje (skulls 17, 11 and 18).- 4.4.5. (The family of) Hermann III of Celje (skulls 15 and 12).- 4.4.6. (The family of) Ulrich II (skulls 18 and 16).- 4.4.7. The family of Hermann II of Celje (skulls 9, 10, 13, 15 and 17).- 4.4.8. Friedrich II of Celje and the illegitimate son Hans (skulls 17 and 14).- 4.4.9. Common epigenetic traits of skulls 1–18.- 4.5. Conclusions based on the historiographical and identificational results.- 4.6. Genealogical results.- 4.7. Art history results.- 5. Discussion.- 6. Conclusion.- List of Pictures and Illustrations.- 7. Literature.- Abstract.- About The Author.