Forensic anthropological examination of skeletons found in tlos and demre

Determination of identity is one of the most important subjects in Forensic Medicine. It has become more difficult to study identification in some cases such as multiple burials, mass graves, high number of deaths due to natural disasters, especially in completely skeletonised cases. Determination of the origin and cause of death becomes difficult in such cases. The purpose of this study is to contribute the excavations conducted by Department of Archaeology of Faculty of Letters, Akdeniz University. In this study, the skeletons found in the `Big Hamam? area in Tlos ancient city of Lycia between 2005-2007 and the skeletons of two sarcophagus graves and skeletons found on the edge and the surroundings of Demre Stream, following the flood in 2007, have been examined with forensic anthroposcopic and anthropometric methods. The study has endeavored first of all to determine gender, followed by the age and length of the skeletons. It has been also aimed to contribute to excavation studies by investigating personal variation of the skeletons, and any signs of trauma and disease. First of all the gender of the 104 skeletons was determined and it was found that 45 skeletons were men and 47 skeletons were women. Due to a high possibility of misidentifying, the gender of the 4 infants and one child was not determined. The genders of 7 skeletons couldn?t identify. In the examination of the skeletons in the Tlos group it was found that 3.8% were babies (n:2), 1.9% children (n=1), 3.8% adolescent (n=2), 38.5% young adults (n=20), 48.1% middle aged (n:25), and 3.8% were elderly (n=2). In the examination of the skeletons in the Demre group it was found that 6.4% were babies (n=3), 40.4% young adults (n=19), 31.9% middle aged (n=15), and 21.3% were elderly (n=10). The height measurements of the skeletons were calculated by using the maximum lengths of the long bones of the individuals using the Trotter (1970) formulas. The average height of the skeletons, after gender determination and bone match, was calculated to be 1.69 cm for the men, and 1.59 cm for the women. When matching found skeletons and missing people; it is necessary to first of all determine physical characteristics such as gender, age and height. These can be determined correctly with the help of anthropology techniques. The degree of accuracy can be increased by adding personal variations, pathological features and morphologic characteristics unique to the individual. In conclusion, within the framework of these general principals, this study has contributed to the excavation studies performed by our university, Literature Faculty, Archeology Department with the data obtained by examining the skeletons found in excavation sites at Tlos and Demre.