The Triad Approach for Human Identification: The Role of Biological Anthropologists in Collaborative Forensic Genetic Genealogy Efforts

Abstract

Forensic anthropologists and bioarchaeologists (FAs/BAs) are often the curators (and researchers) of the most difficult types of unidentified human remains: skeletonized, fragmented, mummified, burned, and commingled individuals, whose remains may sit shelved with lost history among collections and whose identity may not be recovered without interdisciplinary partnerships. In turn, analyses of the remains of unidentified decedents by FAs/BAs can assist forensic genetic genealogists and genomic scientists in pursuit of human identification. In this study, we present an overview of the breadth and applicability of the holistic contributions that FAs/BAs make in decedent identification. Through a forensic case study, we demonstrate how leveraging a multidisciplinary team effort, which we have coined the triad approach, successfully and efficiently identifies individuals and can aid in repatriation.