ABSTRACT
Age determination is a principal element in both anthropological and archaeological investigations (Cattaneo 2009a). It is generally assessed through the analysis of maturational milestones that manifest in the skeleton and dentition. Indicators of skeletal maturity can be used in both clinical and forensic examinations to assess developmental status; from this, chronological age may be inferred (Lewis and Rutty 2003). In a forensic context, the estimated age at death of the deceased constitutes a fundamental component of the biological pro˜le, which is used by anthropologists to narrow the range of potential matches during the process of identi˜cation (Scheuer and Black 2007). Indeed, when presented with juvenile remains, the age at death is o‘en the only biological parameter that can be determined with any degree of accuracy (Scheuer and Black 2000). However, age determination is not limited to situations involving individuals who are deceased and can also be utilized to assess age in the living (Cattaneo 2009b). †is can be important in certain judicial circumstances, when authorities require age to be established
Introduction 1 Trends in the Literature 2 Skeletal Maturation 3
Skeletal Age Assessment in Fetal and Neonatal Specimens 4 Skeletal Age Estimation of Infants, Children, and Adolescents 5 Common Issues in Juvenile Skeletal Age Estimation 8
Skeletal versus Dental Age Assessment 9 Dental Age Assessment in the Juvenile 10 †e †ird Molars 11
Summary 11 References 12 Dental Bibliography 20 †ird Molar Bibliography 26
to determine an appropriate course of action (Lewis and Rutty 2003). Such circumstances can be civil or criminal and can include cases involving pedopornography; sex with a minor; lack of legitimate identi˜cation; and criminal culpability (Lewis and Rutty 2003; Cunha et al. 2009). Age determination can also be important in clinical cases for the diagnosis of pathological versus normal growth and development (Scheuer and Black 2000). †is chapter provides a review of the literature that has addressed age determination in the juvenile skeleton for the purposes of the objectives mentioned. †is includes a discussion of the increasingly sophisticated investigative methods employed in juvenile age assessment combined with an evaluation of the accuracy and limitations inherent in the utility of these techniques.
