Age estimation from dry bone measurements: evidence from a sample of soldiers exiled in two concentration camps in Bari

Abstract

Mandible undergoes remodelling and morphological alterations throughout all life of an individual and is subjected to gender and age-related structural changes. The personal identification from skeletal remains represents one of the most difficult challenges for a forensic anthropologist. The study of mandibular morphology is an important aid in the definition of sex and the age of skeletal remains. The objective of this study was to evaluate the age-related change of three mandibular measures i.e. bigonial width, ramus height and gonial angle via dry bone measurements. A total of 93 skeletal remains of a group of Yugoslav-origin soldiers who lived inside the two concentration camps of Bari during the World War II collected in the Forensic Anthropology Laboratory of the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Bari were included in this study. The measurements were collected after comprehensive examination by one principal and one coinvestigator. The obtained data were statistically analyzed by bivariate test and multivariate logistic and linear regression models using Statal 13MP software. Results indicate that the bigonial width and gonial angle vary statistically significant according to age. In conclusion, this study confirms that mandible is useful as age determination in the identification of skeletal remains using specific mandibular measurements performed on the dry bone without radiological distortions.