Presentation Type
Poster
Diet Reconstruction of Unidentified Cases by use of Stable Isotopic Analysis on Skeletal Material
Abstract
Every year there are nearly 4,400 unidentified human bodies discovered within the U.S. according to the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics (Harrell 2010). Currently there are over 50 unidentified cases within Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Polk counties here in Florida currently stored at the Hillsborough medical examiner’s office. By utilizing stable isotope analysis on tooth enamel and bone fragments we hope to reconstruct their diet in hopes of determining if they were born and raised locally. Diet reconstruction will examine stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen found within the bone and tooth enamel. Oxygen isotopes have been utilized for geographic relation because of its relatedness toward local climate and humidity (Tykot 2006). By establishing possible origins of these cases by stable isotopic analysis we may provide a more efficient method to identify individuals.
Categories
Social Sciences
Research Type
Thesis
Mentor Information
Dr. Erin Kimmerle
Diet Reconstruction of Unidentified Cases by use of Stable Isotopic Analysis on Skeletal Material
Every year there are nearly 4,400 unidentified human bodies discovered within the U.S. according to the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics (Harrell 2010). Currently there are over 50 unidentified cases within Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Polk counties here in Florida currently stored at the Hillsborough medical examiner’s office. By utilizing stable isotope analysis on tooth enamel and bone fragments we hope to reconstruct their diet in hopes of determining if they were born and raised locally. Diet reconstruction will examine stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen found within the bone and tooth enamel. Oxygen isotopes have been utilized for geographic relation because of its relatedness toward local climate and humidity (Tykot 2006). By establishing possible origins of these cases by stable isotopic analysis we may provide a more efficient method to identify individuals.
