A Practical Method for Detecting Commingled Remains Using Epiphyseal Union

The utility of epiphyseal union as a means of estimating the chronological age of juvenile remains is well known and documented. Less thoroughly investigated, however equally valuable, is the application of epiphyseal union in the recognition and sorting of commingled remains. Detection of commingled remains is most easily accomplished through the recognition of duplicate elements within an assemblage, e.g., two left femora. In the absence of repeated elements, however, commingling episodes are more difficult to recognize and rely on the anthropologist to detect discrepancies between skeletal elements within the assemblage. The aim of this chapter is to present a user-friendly epiphyseal recording form that quickly highlights areas of possible incongruent fusing patterns. Once suspect areas are recognized, then the sequence trees and antenna diagram can be referenced to add support to or reject suspicions. This process of quick recognition followed by more detailed investigation is demonstrated using two sample cases.