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Assessing recovery rate methods: A review and application for human skeletal assemblages
Andrea Palmiotto1,2, Carrie B LeGarde2, Carrie A Brown2
1Department of Anthropology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|May 9, 2020
Summary
Recovery rates in skeletal analysis vary significantly by calculation method. Understanding these differences is crucial for accurately assessing analytical potential and interpreting results from commingled human remains.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Anthropology
- Bioarchaeology
- Archaeology
Background:
- Recovery rates quantify recovered skeletal materials relative to expected totals.
- High recovery rates are often interpreted as indicators of high analytical capabilities.
- Numerous methods exist for calculating recovery rates, each suited to different research questions and variables.
Observation:
- This study applied several methods to calculate individual and element recovery rates for the USS Oklahoma commingled human remains assemblage.
- Calculated recovery rates for individuals ranged from 91% to 102%.
- Element recovery rates varied widely, from 0.02% to 91% depending on the method used.
Findings:
- Recovery rate calculations are not directly comparable across different methodologies.
- The choice of recovery rate method must align with specific research questions and project contexts.
- A new concept, the 'analytical recovery rate,' is proposed for assessing biological profile parameters after individuation of commingled remains.
Implications:
- Careful consideration of recovery rate methodologies is essential for accurate interpretation of skeletal assemblages.
- The analytical recovery rate offers a flexible approach to evaluating potential for biological profile assessment.
- This framework enhances the analytical potential of commingled human remains by prioritizing relevant elements for study.
