Gafner, Katrina Bea; (2023) The Suitability of Animal Analogues in Forensic Anthropology: A Case Study in Experimental Burned Bone Research. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

Text Edited Version Gafner Thesis 2023.pdf - Accepted Version Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 1 July 2025. Download (7MB)

Abstract

Whether justified by ethical considerations, practicalities or legal constraints, experimental studies within forensic anthropology have become reliant on animal analogues for the creation of primary research material. While the rationale of animal-based studies cannot be denied, it is arguably concerning that no baseline data currently exists to establish their suitability. Divided into three parts, this thesis seeks to explore the state of animal analogues within forensic anthropology and to present the scope of the challenges involved in creating empirical validation evidence in the UK. Part 1 features a literature review exploring the standards of expert evidence admissibility and the current challenges facing forensic science. It also contains a systematic review into the use and justification of animal analogues, showing the current lack of standards in experimental design. Part 2 examines how animal analogues are utilised within a subfield of forensic anthropology, experimental burned remains research. Following a second literature review chapter outlining the thermal transformation of bone and the aims of burned remains research, Part 2 creates baseline data for experimental burned remains research. The baseline data show the results of established macroscopic methods on the burned elements of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) and sheep (Ovis aries) that have undergone a controlled burning in a pet crematorium. Finally, Part 3 suggests an experimental approach for validating baseline data against human remains. This theoretical experiment contains a short proof of concept study using cremated individuals from the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection. The results will impact experimental design not only in burned bone research but across research interests in forensic anthropology. A discussion of the learnings of all three parts provides insight into the challenges involved in creating baseline data in the UK and concludes that a human taphonomic research facility will be imperative to future research.

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