Dead man do dead tales

.pdf

School

Collin County Community College District *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

2346

Subject

Anthropology

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

pdf

Pages

Uploaded by MateToadPerson1067

1. Where is William Maples from? William Maples was born in Dallas Texas on August 7th 1937 growing up in a house filled with books and magazines. The most used book in his library was the dictionary. Reading was so prevalent in his household he compared it to breathing. 2. How was sex determined from the skull cap from the Santa Fe River? How was age determined? What was the evidence of trauma? In 1974, a fragment of a cranium discovered by scuba divers near a bridge over the Santa Fe River was brought to Maples for analysis. Remarkably, within a span of just 72 hours, Maples discerned that the skull cap belonged to a mature adult female who had not yet reached middle age. The determination of the skull's sex relied on observations of the upper margins of the eye openings, the smooth high forehead, and the muscle attachment markings. Subsequently, Maples turned his attention to the examination of cranial sutures, the only available method for estimating age, albeit one with its limitations. Despite its reliability concerns, Maples skillfully used this technique. He elucidated that the victim had suffered two blows from a hammer-like object, evident from the fracture lines in the skull. A second injury, characterized by a depressed skull fracture of the outer layer of the cranial vault, revealed a ﬂat circular striking surface of the hammerhead. The killer later confessed that this tool was a carpenter's hatchet. The circular surface indicated the bone was still fresh at the time of impact, providing crucial evidence of trauma. 3. What is BARF? What do they do there? In the late 1970s, Bill Bass founded an anthropological research facility at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. This unique facility, also known as a decay rate facility, played a crucial role in forensic anthropology. Unclaimed bodies from the medical examiner's oﬃce were exposed and meticulously observed in an open-air morgue setting. Bill Bass and his team carefully monitored the decay process of up to 40 human bodies and a few dogs. Using photographic documentation, they tracked and documented the intricate stages of decomposition. This facility provided valuable insights into the understanding of post-mortem changes, aiding forensic scientists and anthropologists in their work on human remains. 4. Describe the processes of autolysis and putrefaction. Following death, the digestive process continues posthumously as the enzymes responsible for digestion remain active; this is called autolysis. Within a few hours of death, these digestive juices initiate the breakdown of the gastrointestinal tract, and the stomach acids may start to corrode the esophagus. The rapid onset of putrefaction follows shortly thereafter, characterized by the swelling of the body due to the accumulation of methane gas. This process gives rise to the distinctive odor commonly associated with decomposing bodies, often colloquially referred to as the "road kill smell." Both the breakdown of the gastrointestinal tract and the production of methane gas are outcomes of the chemical interactions between carbon-based compounds, as these compounds merge and undergo transformations during the natural processes of decay.

5. Describe the unusual condition of the corpse of the murdered son-in-law in the case of the “terrible old man” from Miami. Having spent years in the septic tank, the corpse had ﬂoated face down, with hands and feet hanging down into the liquid. As decomposition progressed, the ﬂesh on the limbs decayed, causing various bones such as the hands, feet, and skull to gradually detach and descend to the tank's bottom. There, they became embedded in the clay and sand, serving as a macabre preservation method, preventing further decay. 6. Describe the case of a body found in two places in the Florida Keys. Was the person killed by a shark? In 1991, an incident unfolded in Leesburg, Florida, where a dog was discovered consuming the lower left section of a remarkably fresh human leg. Surprisingly, a week later and nearly 100 miles away in Daytona, Florida, another chilling discovery was made – the lower part of a right leg. Upon examination by Maples, it was established that these legs exhibited striking similarities and were highly probable to belong to the same individual. A distinctive feature noted during the comparison was the presence of matching calluses just below the knees, a characteristic commonly associated with individuals who engage in surfing. Both legs had been severed approximately an inch below the knee joint. Microscopic analysis of the incisions revealed overlapping teeth bites, leading to the unsettling conclusion that the person in question likely met their demise at the jaws of a shark. 7. Describe “The Case of the Pale-Faced Indian.” What did he use to dismember his landlord? Regarded as one of the astonishing cases handled by Maples, this particular incident concluded with a guilty plea after Maples testified in court. In 1981, Maples was approached to assist in identifying a dismembered body buried in a rural area, belonging to a man from Gainesville who owned land. The victim had permitted a Vietnam veteran to camp on his land, but when asked to vacate the premises, the veteran, a former criminal, refused.In response, the landowner wrote a letter to the veteran's probation oﬃcer, revealing his unauthorized presence on the property and involvement in growing marijuana. Tragically, this letter proved to be the catalyst for the brutal murder of the landowner. Shortly thereafter, oﬃcers at the scene discovered the severed end of the landlord's thigh bone protruding from the ground. Maples and his colleague proceeded to excavate the rest of the remains, uncovering the unsettling details that both thigh bones had been severed and placed alongside the torso in the grave. The dismemberment method was described as unconventional. Examination of one femur indicated that the assailant initially used a knife to cut through muscle and skin, attempting to cut through the bone before growing fatigued. Subsequently, the killer switched to an ax to complete the amputation of the first leg and, abandoning the knife, continued using the ax for the second leg. 8. Why does Florida have so many suicides? Due to personal reasons I had trouble reading this chapter, I’m sorry.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version