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13 - The Analysis of Tooth Cementum for the Histological Determination of Age and Season at Death on Teeth of US Active Duty Military Members

from Part II - Protocols

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2022

By
Nicholas Wilson  and
Katrin Koel-Abt
Edited by
Stephan Naji ,
William Rendu  and
Lionel Gourichon
Stephan Naji
Affiliation:
New York University
William Rendu
Affiliation:
University of Bordeaux (CNRS)
Lionel Gourichon
Affiliation:
Université de Nice, Sophia Antipolis
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Summary

Tooth Cementum Annulation Analysis (TCA), or Cementochronology, has been evolving over recent years with great potential for applied forensic sciences. The goals of this research is to evaluate if TCA can be used to accurately determine the chronological age at time of death and season at time of death for unaccounted for US service members and in forensic anthropology in general. Fifty teeth were processed, and analyzed by two independent observers for age and season at time of death estimations. Results indicate an average of 85% estimation success within a ±4 years range of documented chronological age. The last band of cementum was identified to the correct season in average 74%, with an interobserver agreement of 78%. This pilot study thus supports age at death estimation using TCA in forensic contexts, and suggests additional validation studies for season of death estimation.

Keywords

cementumTCAage-at-deathforensic anthropologyseason of deathDPAAmilitary personnel
Type
Chapter
Information
Dental Cementum in Anthropology , pp. 226 - 233
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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