Buchner A
Int Dent J. 1985 Dec;35(4):307-11.
In modern societies identification of human remains is necessary for both legal and social reasons. There are various methods, but all of them employ the basic process of comparison. Thus, identification is dependent upon the available ante-mortem records as well as the completeness and degree of preservation of the remains. The most frequently used and simplest method of identification is personal recognition by relatives and friends--a method that has led to innumerable mistakes. Evidence from clothing and personal belongings is also widely relied upon. It too leads to mistakes since loose objects can be mislaid or switched between bodies. The more reliable methods of identification rest upon features inherent in the body itself. Fingerprinting is the most accurate and precise method. If it cannot be used, the dental method becomes of the utmost importance. In cases of mutilated, decomposed, burned or fragmented bodies, other methods--medical, radiological, skeletal, serological and hair examinations--must be employed. Skeletal examination can lead to the reliable determination of age, sex, race and stature of the individual. From birth to adolescence, accurate age estimation can be obtained from tooth development and in adults by examination of the pubic symphysis. The data derived from these methods when pooled together provide sufficient comparison for conclusive identification to be established. The identification procedures in the Israel Defence Forces are described.
在现代社会，出于法律和社会原因，对人类遗骸进行身份鉴定是必要的。有多种方法，但所有方法都采用基本的比对过程。因此，身份鉴定取决于生前记录的可获取性以及遗骸的完整程度和保存状况。最常用且最简单的身份鉴定方法是由亲属和朋友进行个人辨认——这一方法导致了无数错误。衣物和个人物品提供的证据也被广泛依赖。但这也会导致错误，因为松散物品可能会丢失或在不同尸体之间被调换。更可靠的身份鉴定方法基于身体本身固有的特征。指纹识别是最准确、精确的方法。如果无法使用指纹识别，牙科方法就变得至关重要。对于残缺、腐烂、烧焦或破碎的尸体，必须采用其他方法——医学、放射学、骨骼学以及血清学和毛发检验。骨骼检查可以可靠地确定个体的年龄、性别、种族和身高。从出生到青春期，可以通过牙齿发育准确估计年龄，而在成年人中则通过耻骨联合检查来估计年龄。将这些方法得出的数据汇总在一起，可为确定最终身份提供充分的比对依据。文中还描述了以色列国防军的身份鉴定程序。
