Forensic Anthropology

Purpose

The Injury Biomechanics Research center is comprised of qualified forensic experts that serve the Ohio community by assisting law enforcement agencies in searching for, recovering, and identifying human remains. These individuals have thoroughly studied and trained professionally to get experience in forensic anthropology, forensic archaeology, skeletal biology, human anatomy, and injury biomechanics to create an interdisciplinary approach to forensics. The work done by the forensic experts have contributed to prehistoric, historic, and modern investigations involving human and non-human remains.

Services

Search and Recovery

Archaeological field methods are applied to outdoor sites ranging from small surface searches to mass disasters (e.g. aircraft crash site).

Determination of human vs.
non-human remains

Macroscopic and microscopic osteological methods are utilized to aid in the determination of human or non-human skeletal remains.

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Determination of human vs.
non-human remains

Macroscopic and microscopic osteological methods are utilized to aid in the determination of human or non-human skeletal remains.

Anthropological Analysis:
formulating the biological profile

Determination of age, sex, stature, and ancestry, as well as traits of individuation of unidentified skeletal remains. Histological analysis can be used to determine the age at death.

Trauma Analysis

An assessment of trauma timing (ante-mortem, peri-mortem, or post-mortem) and interpretation of type of trauma.

Trauma Analysis

An assessment of trauma timing (ante-mortem, peri-mortem, or post-mortem) and interpretation of type of trauma.

Team

Amanda M. Agnew, PhD, Director, Forensic Anthropologist Director, Skeletal Biology Research Laboratory
Associate Professor, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Angela L. Harden, PhD, Team Leader, Forensic Anthropologist

Research Assistant Professor, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Consultations and Community Partners

Academy of Pharmacy of Central Ohio
Austintown Police Department
Belmont County Sheriff’s Office
Belpre Police Department
Buckeye Search and Rescue Dogs
Clark County Coroner’s Office
Clark County Sheriff’s Office
Columbus Police Department
Delaware County Coroner’s Office
Department of Homeland Security
Federal Bureau of Investigation – Columbus and Cincinnati
Franklin County Coroner’s Office
Grandview Heights Police Department
Hillsboro Police Department
K9 Response Search and Rescue
Knox County Sheriff’s Office
Lima Police Department
Lorain Police Department
Mansfield Police Department
Mechanicsburg Police Department
Mercyhurst University
Montgomery County Coroner’s Office
Mount Tabor Cemetery Association
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification
Ohio Department of Public Safety
Ohio State Chapter of Sigma Xi
Ohio Valley Archaeology, Inc.
Ohio War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission
PAST Innovation Lab
Perry County Sheriff’s Office
Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office
Pike County Sheriff’s Office
Powell Police Department
Search and Rescue Ohio
Six River Valley Chapter of the Archaeological Society of Ohio
Upper Arlington Citizen Police Academy
Village of Fort Jennings, OH
Warren County Sheriff’s Office
Weld County Coroner
Weller and Associates Inc
Westerville Police Department

Contact Information

Amanda M. Agnew, PhD, Director
amanda.agnew@osumc.edu