Numerical Variations in the Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebrae within the John A. Williams Skeletal Collection, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC (USA)

Authors

Leanna Annette Sanford, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

William R. Belcher

Second Advisor

Elizabeth Clausing

Third Advisor

LuAnn Wandsnider

Date of this Version

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College of the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts

Major: Anthropology

Under the supervision of William R. Belcher

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2024

Comments

Copyright © 2024, Leanna Annette Sanford. Used by permission

Abstract

This research is on how human variation can lead to the identification of remains based on skeletal variation. The data were collected by performing a morphoscopic trait study of the John A. Williams (J.A.W.) Documented Human Skeletal Collection at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC (USA). Morphoscopic traits are nonmetric traits, visually identified using the knowledge of osteology. The study was performed to study variation of the vertebral column, specifically focusing on morphoscopic traits of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. The focus of this research is centralized on the presence of numerical variations in the vertebral column such as eleven or thirteen thoracic, and four or six lumbar vertebrae. As of 2022, the official documentation of the Williams Collection consists of 112 skeletal donors of known recorded sex, with 110 individuals of known sex and age-at-death (George et. al, 2022). However, at the time of data collection this collection has grown, with the official number of donors unavailable, due to ongoing donor placements at their facility. The skeletal data were collected from the donors at their Forensic Osteological Research Station (FOREST), as these are ethically obtained donations. These individuals willingly donated their bodies to FOREST to be used in teaching students and visiting researchers about human decomposition processes (George et al., 2022). The sample used for this research consisted of 101 donors, from primarily white individuals, with 12 of unknown population. The sample consists of 54 biological males-at-birth, 44 biological females-at-birth, and three donors with unknown sex-at-births. If this is a frequent variation, then work in recoveries in the field involving identification, and highest accounting forensic processes can adapt methodologies to focus more on these variations. The knowledge of natural variations and its occurrence rate in a population can aid in identification efforts. When a trait has been shown to be frequently occurring, healthcare providers can begin to look for and document its presence. If these variations are unique, this trait can assist in making an identification. The results of this research can establish the presence of this variation and analyze if this variation can aid in making positive identifications.

Advisor: William R. Belcher