Foundation History
The Ellis R. Kerley Forensic Sciences Foundation was established in 2000 in memory of Ellis R. Kerley Ph.D., Forensic Anthropologist (1924-1998). Ellis R. Kerley, one of the leading anthropologists, was a pioneer force in the creation of Forensic Anthropology. The Foundation, a charitable organization, is dedicated to furthering the development of forensic anthropology by assisting students and professionals in the field of anthropology and support research in the forensic analysis of the skeleton.
Dr. Ellis R. Kerley devised a way to derive precise knowledge, often including positive identification from skeletal remains. One technique – now known as the Kerley Method – involved statistical analysis of data derived from cross-sections of long bones from the arms and legs. Dr. Kerley would take a cross-section of a bone evaluate the bone organization and count the bone cells (osteons). Data from several areas of the bone can be entered into a regression formula to estimate age at death.
The foundation was created to continue research in the field of forensic anthropology and to help students achieve academic excellence in this field. There are many projects planned to further develop the field of Forensic Anthropology and we welcome your suggestions and proposals.
Dr. Ellis R. Kerley devised a way to derive precise knowledge, often including positive identification from skeletal remains. One technique – now known as the Kerley Method – involved statistical analysis of data derived from cross-sections of long bones from the arms and legs. Dr. Kerley would take a cross-section of a bone evaluate the bone organization and count the bone cells (osteons). Data from several areas of the bone can be entered into a regression formula to estimate age at death.
The foundation was created to continue research in the field of forensic anthropology and to help students achieve academic excellence in this field. There are many projects planned to further develop the field of Forensic Anthropology and we welcome your suggestions and proposals.
Forensic Anthropology
Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of biological anthropology to the legal process. The identification of skeletal, badly decomposed, or otherwise unidentified human remains is important for both legal and humanitarian reasons. Forensic anthropologists apply standard scientific techniques developed in physical anthropology to analyze human remains, and to aid in the detection of crime. In addition to assisting in locating and recovering human skeletal remains, forensic anthropologists work to assess the age, sex, ancestry, stature, and unique features of a decedent from the skeleton. Forensic anthropologists frequently work in conjunction with forensic pathologists, odontologists, and homicide investigators to identify a decedent, document trauma to the skeleton, and/or estimate the postmortem interval.
