Estimating Age at Death

Abstract

The estimation of age at death based on anatomical information from the lower extremity involves an assessment of physiological age and an attempt to correlate it with chronological age. Specific techniques employed in this process vary with the sample available for analysis as well as the general age of the individual ( 1 , 2 ). Some techniques are specific to particular bones or even parts of bones. Techniques that would be ideal to use to estimate age at death in fetal remains are irrelevant in adults. Some consideration also must be given to sex and population differences and their impact on age indicators. In this chapter, the relevant literature will be reviewed and recommendations for appropriate procedures will be provided. In recognition of the focus of this volume, this discussion will be limited to the lower extremity, although workers should be aware that additional and perhaps more accurate techniques may be available when other anatomical areas are present. General reviews of techniques for estimating age at death based on all parts of the body have been published by Bass ( 3 ), Krogman and Iscan ( 4 ), Scheuer and Black ( 5 ), Steele and Bramblett ( 6 ), Stewart ( 7 ), Sundick ( 8 ), Ubelaker ( 9 ), White ( 10 ), and the Workshop of European Anthropologists ( 11 ). These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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