Forensic anthropology in Turkey

Forensic Science International 66 (1994) 61-68

Forensic anthropology

Forensic Science International

in Turkey

Erksin Savag Giileq*“, Mehmet Ya,sar IFanb “Fiziki Antropoloji Bdiimii, Dil ve Tarih Cografya Fakiiltesi, Ankara iiniversitesi, Sihhiye. 06100 Ankara, Turkey hDepartment of Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca &ton, Florida 33431-0991. USA

(Received 14 October 1993; accepted 6 December 1993)

AMTaCt

Research in skeletal biology has a long history in Turkey, but the shift towards the study of conte.mporary people has recently been stimulated by the need for appropriate techniques for forensic application. There is an increasing need for data to determine if populationspecific #standards for age and stature estimation and sex determination are necessary and if so, to develop them. The purpose of this paper is to outline the development of forensic anthropology in Turkey. As has been the case elsewhere, forensic anthropology has its roots in physical anthropology. In Turkey, distinguished pioneers in physical anthropology, such as Sevket A. Kansu and Muzaffer S. Senyiirek, focused on the skeletal biology of the historic and prehistoric inhabitants of Anatolia. Today, research programs are under way in the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul and the Department of Physical Anthropology in Ankara to include the collection of data on modern Turks. A number of projects dealing with various aspects of forensic anthropology are already in progress, e.g., development of age and sex determination standards for the Turkish population. In addition, several graduate students have also chosen research topics in this field. Keywod:

Forensic anthropology;

Turkey; Skeletal identification

1. Intratduction The ‘term ‘forensic anthropology’ was coined in 1972 when the Physical Anthropology Section was established as part of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in the United States [l]. In 1973, a forensic anthropology certification Corresjpcnding author.

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0379-0738/94/$07.00 0 1994 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. SSDI 0379-0738(93)01478-A

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board was formed primarily to set professional standards for practitioners [2]. The board provided certification for the expertise of its professionals, giving weight to their authoritative judgments on medico-legal matters and appearance in court as expert witnesses. In the ensuing 20 years since its creation, forensic anthropology has become an internationally recognized scientific field of research and practice. Although the formalization of forensic specialization is relatively recent, the role of physical anthropologists in the medico-legal system is a long standing one. It grew as a natural extension of human osteology and skeletal biology, in which studies led to the establishment of standards for determining age, sex, race, trauma and disease, well before the 1970s. One can hardly ignore the outstanding, pioneering article by Wilton Marion Krogman introducing this field in 1939 [3,4]. Fittingly, the article was published in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. As the discipline grew and took shape, more extensive material covering specific aspects of the field was added. Of all that has been written, Krogman’s 1962 edition, The Human Skeleton in Forensic Medicine [5], later revised and updated by Krogman and &can in 1986 [6], remains the most comprehensive and authoritative book on the subject today. Stewart’s [7] book detailed the American experience in this field. Other sources became available such as laboratory manuals [8,9] and books [ 10-131. Europe was no less active. Fazekas and Kosa [ 141broke new ground with their book on fetal osteology. Zdentifikation by Hunger and Leopold [ 151is an excellent example of the European approach to forensic anthropology. Even a quick glance at this book shows the wealth and variety of research of truly ‘forensic anthropology’. In addition, a number of other sources whose main focus is skeletal biology also allude to the forensic implications of their findings. Numerous chapters in Anthropologic [16], edited by Knussman, were purely forensic in nature, a considerable change from its earlier edition by Martin and Saller [ 171. European scientists also made important contributions in the area of facial reconstruction and skull-photo superimposition. Gerasimov’s work inspired many, including his prominent student Lebedinskaya [ 181, and in Austria, Kritscher and Szilvassy [ 191 turned their attention to facial reconstruction techniques. In Germany, Helmer [20] influenced the world with his methods for skull-photo superimposition. In Italy, Pesce Delfino and associates [21] developed another, highly technical approach to this endeavor. Some of the most recent investigations have come from Asia, especially Japan and China. All of the latest work in this area is presented in a new book entitled Forensic Analysis of the Skull, edited by &can and his European co-author Helmer [13]. Forensic anthropologists are called upon for their expertise in a variety of internationally significant cases. These include the identification of historical individuals such as Mozart [19] and Pizarro [22], Nazi criminals such as Mengele [23] and Ivan the Terrible [24]. They are also involved in the identification of mass disaster victims from plane crashes [25], floods, political upheavals and war. 2. Forensic anthropology in Turkey In Turkey, the development of forensic anthropology followed two separate paths - traditional physical anthropology as in the United States; and through forensic medicine. The traditional path from physical anthropology traces the roots of demo-

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graphic techniques from the skeleton to a long scientific history. A number of scholarls including Muzaffer S. *nyiirek and +vket A. Kansu brought osteological methodology from various countries. For example, $enyiirek earned his Ph.D. from Harvand under Earnest Hooton and brought his methods and teachings back to Turkey. $enyiirek is credited with establishing paleodemography in Turkey as well as publishing pioneering studies for other parts the world [26-281. His work included dent.al eruption sequences and wear patterns in prehistoric and historic population [2’9-321. Senyiirek’s tradition continued through several disciples including Enver ‘u’.Bostanci and Refakat Ciner. Bostanci led the skeletal biology team at the University of Ankara, and his students included Professors Bema Alpagut and Metin ctizbek, as well as the authors. Those who remained in Turkey pursued research in both paleoanthropology and skeletal biology [33-371. Over the years, Turkish osteologists have adopted existing techniques developed from European and American whites for use in skeletal studies. Until fairly recently, Turks relied on traditional age estimation techniques developed from non-Turkish populations [38]. GiileG [39,40] has analyzed numerous sites and investigated the paleodemography and paleopathology of historical populations. For sub-adult age estimation, for example, she relies on the dental eruption sequence summarized by Brothwell [41]. This is supplemented by the assessment of fontanel closure, centers of ossification, and long bone lengths (6,421. Following complete eruption of the permanent dentition, age in adolescence is based on the progression of epiphyseal closure in long bones 141,431.Adulthood is defined by the completion of epiphyseal union in the long bones. In adults, the areas that are most frequently looked at include medial end of the clavicle [44], pubic symphyseal aging [45], sutural closure and cancellous reduction of long bone epiphyses [46]. For complete skeletons, she favors a multiregional approach involving cranial sutures, pubic symphysis and spongiosa of the humerus and femur [47,48]. In the past few years, she has added morph’ologic assessment of the sternal extremity of the rib [49,50]. For sex determination in adults, Turks rely most heavily on pelvic and cranial morphlology [41,51]. For statural estimates, they apply regression formulae for other caucasoid populations by Pearson [52] and occasionally, Trotter [53]. Turkish scientists are aware that intrapopulational variation can affect the accuracy ofdemographic assessment. With the exception of some universal morphologic commonalties, differences between the sexes may be strongly linked to specific characterstics of a given group. These differences can be particularly problematic when osteometric standards are used for any determination. It has long been known, for example, that the estimation of stature from regression formulae is not only racespecific between caucasoids, mongoloids and blacks, but also within each group. Since no standards have as yet been developed specifically for modern Turks, practitioners, must rely on existing techniques, while keeping in mind that the actual results may be affected by this inherent variation. Of much more recent origin is the path from forensic medicine, even though this discipline has a long and productive tradition in Turkey. Forensic osteologists have their primary training in medical schools and have little interaction with physical anthropology proper. Esta.blished in 1985, Adli Tip Dergisi (Journal of Forensic Medicine), Istanbul

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brought together many areas of legal medicine for the first time. The journal has a broad-based editorial board including many internationally known scientists. Professor A. Sedat CSlo&t may be credited with initiating the extension of forensic medicine into the realm of forensic anthropology in 1988 (personal communication). Currently chairman of the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences at the University of Istanbul, he realized that there was a need to know more about skeletal biology. He designed course work on the analysis of skeletal remains and added it to existing MA and PhD programs. Following his lead, other Turks published papers on the importance of skeletal remains in forensic studies and the type of demographic information they can provide [54]. A forthcoming book by &can and Ciiloglu [55] will serve as a formal presentation and delineation of Turkish forensic anthropology. Turks have become more aware of the necessity of determining whether the native population’s biological characteristics are significantly different from other caucasoid groups. Polat and associates [56] addressed this question in their study of age estimation from the trabecular bone volume of the vertebral body. Maxillary suture closure was observed by Belli [57] to assess age-related variation. Durak et al. [58] conducted a detailed study of aging in the hyoid bone. Duyar and Sevim [59] attempted to use a historical collection to estimate age in children from iliac dimensions. Since the work of Loth and Igcan [60] has shown that the sternal end of the rib appears to be one of the most reliable sites for assessment of age at death from the adult skeleton, this bone is now being studied to test its effectiveness on Turks

1611. In the area of sex determination, Kasar’s work shows that sex can be effectively diagnosed from various dimensions of the mandible using a modem sample [62,63]. Coltu et al. [64] focused on sexing the sternum. To date, the weakest aspect of skeletal identification in Turkey is the estimation of stature. It is so far limited to one study on the relationship of stature to vertebral body height [65]. Identification and factors of individualization are particularly dependent upon population-specific standards. This knowledge is vital in both the investigation of a death and the trial of a criminal [ 1,6]. In their review, ijzen, Kirangil and Fincanci [54] stress the importance of distinguishing one individual from another. Other studies on this topic are also under way [66]. In the last 2 years, there has been renewed interest in developing a skeletal biology research program. At the senior author’s institution, osteologic studies are turning attention to forensic applications. This is a logical extension because a thorough understanding of the human skeleton can lead to a better appreciation of the range of variation one can expect. It is through traditional anthropological training that new research avenues have been opened up for the medico-legal system. &can and Giilec [67] have already begun writing a laboratory manual in osteology. This book, along with that by &can and Cdloglu [55] on forensic anthropology, will be keystones in the foundation of this field in Turkey. 3. Discussion Despite current progress, there is much that needs to be done. There has as yet

ES.

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been no significant testing to determine if non-Turkish standards are applicable to Turks. :Many studies have proven that there is a great range of both intra- and interpopulations differences that may affect the accuracy of group-specific standards. Although Turks are a caucasoid population, their environment differs substantially from that of other Europeans and from North Americans. The most obvious differences arising from underlying genetic and environmental complexities will be manifest in determinations involving osteometric dimensions, such as the estimation of height or discriminant function sexing. The aging process may also be altered by sociocultural and occupational stresses. Differences in aging may also affect the rate of statural decline that is known to accompany advancing age. Body proportions are also group-specific. Research by &can [68] has indicated that, in some groups, stature can be estimated better from the tibia than the femur or even from the combination of both. These are just a few examples illustrating the urgent need to amass a skeletal collection of known individuals to serve as a database for appropriate standards. Because there is no documented skeletal collection representative of today’s Turkish population, plans are being made to assess the effectiveness of some demographic: standards (of a morphological nature) on skeletons from the Panaztepe collection. Excavation of this late Ottoman period site near Izmir is still under way [69]. Thus far, a total of 82 adults and children of both sexes have been curated 1701. It is (clear that forensic anthropology is becoming well established in Turkey and is making progress by initiating research that will meet the practical needs of the country. This has been fueled in large part by Turkish professionals taking advantage of the opportunity to participate in cooperative research with internationally respect’ed colleagues. Strong impetus for internationalization was provided with the publication of an international forum in a special issue of Adli Tip Dergisi in 1990 [711. 4. Acknowledgements

The iauthors are very grateful to Susan R. Loth for helpful comments on, and critical editing of, this manuscript. We also thank Sedat Ciiloglu for information about Forensic Anthropology at the Institute of Forensic Medicine. 5. References M.Y. &can, Rise of forensic anthropology. Yearb. Phys. Anthropol., 31 (1988) 203-230. E.R. Kerley, Recent developments in forensic anthropology. Yearb. Phys. Anthropol., 21 (1978) 160-173.

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