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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
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Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
Physical matches of bone, shell and tooth fragments: a validation study
Angi M Christensen1, Adam D Sylvester
1Laboratory Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA. angi.christensen@ic.fbi.gov
Journal of Forensic Sciences
|May 13, 2008
Summary
This study found that physically matching bone, shell, and tooth fragments is highly reliable, with very low error rates. This suggests the validity of fragment matching in forensic and archaeological contexts.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Archaeology
- Bioarchaeology
- Osteology
Background:
- Physical matching of fragmented biological materials is crucial in forensic and archaeological analyses.
- Assessing the reliability and validity of these matches is essential for accurate interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of physically matching fragmented bone, shell, and tooth specimens.
- To determine the accuracy rates of correct and incorrect matches across participants with varying expertise.
Main Methods:
- Participants with diverse backgrounds completed a matching exercise using intentionally fragmented biological specimens.
- Success rates, including positive (correct), nonassociation (overlooked), and negative (incorrect) matches, were calculated.
Main Results:
- High success rates were observed: positive association rate of 0.925, nonassociation rate of 0.075, and negative association rate of 0.001.
- While not statistically significant, higher education and experience correlated with increased positive association rates.
- Experienced osteologists completed the task significantly faster than less experienced individuals.
Conclusions:
- The low error rates confirm the reliability and validity of physical fragment matching for bone, shell, and teeth.
- Individual aptitude for spatial tasks may influence matching performance, alongside experience and education.
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