Estimation of the most likely number of individuals from commingled human skeletal remains

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Bradley J Adams, Lyle W Konigsberg

Abstract

This study examines quantification techniques applicable to human skeletal remains, and in particular the Lincoln index (LI), the minimum number of individuals (MNI), and what we refer to as the most likely number of individuals (MLNI), which is a modification of the LI by Chapman ([1951] Univ. Calif. Publ. Stat. 1:131-159). As part of the study, a test of pair-matching between commingled homologous elements, e.g., right and left femora, was performed based on gross morphology. The results show that pair-matching can be accurately performed, and that the MLNI is a useful technique for dealing with well-preserved commingled remains recovered from archaeological excavations and/or forensic investigations. Our results show that it is potentially misleading to draw population conclusions based on the MNI, except in instances where recovery is near 100%. The MLNI was found to be the best method to compensate for the potential underestimates of the MNI and potential bias in the original LI estimates resulting from small sample sizes. We demonstrate the use of MLNI in estimating the number of individuals from Lodge 21 at the Larson site, a late protohistoric structure at which the inhabitants were massacred and subsequently had their ...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1997·Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine·T Kahana, J Hiss
May 31, 1991·Science·D A Freedman

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Citations

Jul 25, 2014·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Claudia Garrido-VarasYoland Savriama
Sep 4, 2015·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Susan Guise Sheridan, Lesley A Gregoricka
Mar 12, 2016·International Journal of Legal Medicine·Mara A KarellElena F Kranioti
Oct 13, 2011·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Efthymia Nikita, Marta M Lahr
Jul 30, 2014·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Sara VickersJohn T Bowen
Oct 19, 2013·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Arkadiusz Sołtysiak
Nov 1, 2005·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Bradley J Adams, John E Byrd
Jan 21, 2017·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Susan Guise Sheridan
Nov 16, 2019·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·Igor Vaduvesković, Marija Djuric
Jan 8, 2020·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Margaret A Judd
May 10, 2020·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Andrea PalmiottoCarrie A Brown
Feb 3, 2018·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Amanda B Lee, Lyle W Konigsberg
Aug 12, 2020·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Song XingErik Trinkaus
Nov 20, 2016·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Janet E FinlaysonKevin Dalton
May 19, 2021·International Journal of Paleopathology·Megan A Perry, Emily Edwards

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