Establishing Identity from the Skeletal Remains: In Reference of Alum Bheg a Martyr from 1857 Indian Freedom Struggle

Abstract

Introduction: We undertook the present study to analyze morphological features of a skull supposed to be that of Alum Bheg, a martyr from 1857 Indian Freedom Struggle (also called Sepoy Mutiny), using established methods to validate identity with regards to age and height as available in the note found with the skull (about 32 year and 5 feet 7½ inch). Methods: Identification of sex of the skull was done based on established criteria. Analysis for closure of skull sutures (cranial and facial) and measurement of orbitomedial (OM) & maxillomedial (MM) facial anthropometric lines were undertaken to provide an estimated age against each examined suture as well as group of sutures through established scoring systems. Further, approximate height of individual was estimated from skull length using regression equations from a reference adult Indian male population. Results: Established criteria confirmed that the skull was of a male individual and skull sutures and age related morphological changes in bones indicate that it belonged to an individual in age range 20 -50 years with an average of 30 years and approximate height between 5 feet 8.2 inch to 6 feet 1 inch. Discussion: Based on our observations we suggest that the skull belonged to a male individual around 30 years of age and height 5 feet 8.2 inch to 6 feet 1 inch. The observed values are in approximation with that mentioned in the historical note and slight differences may be attributed either to gross reporting of original values or limitations of anthropometric analysis.

Impact of skull sutures, spongiform bone distribution, and aging skull conductivities on the EEG forward and inverse problems

“…The closure of the adult sutures was then modelled considering fusion at 45, 50, 55, and 70 years for the coronal, sagittal, lambdoid and squamosal sutures, respectively, as mentioned in the literature (Russell & Russell, 2018;Idriz et al, 2015;Kumar et al, 2018;Singh et al, 2004;Nakahara et al, 2006). The sutures were assumed to close at a sigmoid rate from age 20, in accordance with previous publications (Figures 3-5 in Todd and Lyon, 1925;Figure 3 from Jangietriew et al, 2007;and Figure 3a from Chiba et al, 2013).…”

“…For example, the frontal suture fuses between 3 and 9 months old (Vu et al 2001), whilst the sphenosquamosal suture usually closes by 6 years, but can take as long as 10 (Idriz et al 2015). In comparison, during adulthood, the coronal, sagittal, lambdoid, and squamosal sutures do not close until approximately 45, 50, 55, and 70 years of age, respectively (Singh et al 2004, Nakahara et al 2006, Idriz et al 2015, Kumar et al 2018, Russell and Russell 2018). An exemplar diagram of the adult skull sutures and their positions are displayed in figure 1.…”