The Biological Profile of Unidentified Human Remains in a Forensic Context

Abstract

Estimation of the biological profile of unidentified human remains is a critical component of an anthropologic evaluation of unidentified human remains. The profile is used to search for missing persons that may match the decedent. The individual components of sex, ancestry, stature, and age at death require reliable methods to ensure accurate recording of these biological markers. This article showcases an unidentified skeleton that was misclassified as a female when the original evaluation was done in 1963. The revaluation in 2004 quickly led to resolution of the identity. Methods used today to evaluate the components of the biological profile are reviewed along with a limited review of the historic literature.