The Application of Bony Labyrinth Methods for Forensic Affinity Estimation

SIMPLE SUMMARY: When human remains are recovered, it is important to identify the individual for multiple reasons, including reuniting the individual with family members. In cases when human remains are incomplete, it can be challenging to identify the individual. This research found a highly successful method for identifying a person’s affinity by using measurements of the inner ear cavity. Since the inner ear is housed in a bony region that survives extremely well, the potential for identifying human remains is exciting. Researchers developed functions that can identify with 90.8% and higher accuracy between three different population samples using measurements from the bony labyrinth alone. These methods are non-destructive and quick to make, and plug into the functions developed in this research. This research points to potential for this method and calls for additional samples to be added to the data base to help with more identifications in the future. ABSTRACT: Population affinity identification is important for reconstructing the biological profile of human skeletal remains. Most anthropological methods for predicting population affinity rely on complete crania or cranial parts. However, complete parts are frequently not found in forensic and bioarchaeological contexts. In contrast, the petrous portion of the cranium presents a unique rate of preservation in the field. Therefore, this study aimed to develop stepwise discriminant function formulae to determine population affinity using measurements on three-dimensional models of the human adult bony labyrinth. The sample utilised consisted of 30 German, 38 African Zulu, and 30 Oneota individuals. A total of four function equations were developed. The function involving all three populations presented an average accuracy of 90.8%. Mathematical equations were also derived to discriminate between Zulu and Germans (91.2%), Zulu and Oneota (95.5%), as well as Oneota and Germans (96.7%). These results indicate this new method of population affinity identification is highly successful, even with fragmentary remains.