Study on the criteria for assessing skull-face correspondence in craniofacial superimposition.

Craniofacial superimposition has the potential to be used as an identification method when other traditional biological techniques are not applicable due to insufficient quality or absence of ante-mortem and post-mortem data. Despite having been used in many countries as a method of inclusion and exclusion for over a century it lacks standards. Thus, the purpose of this research is to provide forensic practitioners with standard criteria for analysing skull-face relationships. Thirty-seven experts from 16 different institutions participated in this study, which consisted of evaluating 65 criteria for assessing skull-face anatomical consistency on a sample of 24 different skull-face superimpositions. An unbiased statistical analysis established the most objective and discriminative criteria. Results did not show strong associations, however, important insights to address lack of standards were provided. In addition, a novel methodology for understanding and standardizing identification methods based on the observation of morphological patterns has been proposed.

Past, present, and future of craniofacial superimposition: Literature and international surveys.

In this manuscript, the past, present and future of the identification of human remains based on craniofacial superimposition is reviewed. An analysis of the different technological approaches developed over time is offered in conjunction with a new classification based on the technology implemented throughout the diverse phases of the process. The state of the art of the technique, in the academic and forensic realms, is reflected in an extensive international survey that includes over one hundred experts worldwide. The results of the survey indicate the current relative importance of the technique, despite of its controversial nature within the scientific community. Finally, the future challenges to be faced to justify the use of this technique for either profiling, exclusion or identification purposes are discussed.