The use of SEM-EDX in forensic anthropology for the identification of blunt, gunshot and sharp force lesions on bone

Analysis of lesions in forensic anthropology brings with it several questions (definition of the type of lesion, metrical assessment, comparison with a suspected tool or projectile, or reconstruction of its morphological characteristics), to which however, macroscopic and radiological approaches sometimes do not provide a definitive answer; scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) may give relevant information to the assessment of bone lesions, highlighting metal residues released by a gunshot or a sharp tool. In this study the authors applied SEM-EDX to a series of 20 blunt, gunshot and sharp force lesions on bone in different states of preservation, in order to verify the potential of such technology in detecting metal residues; the same analysis was performed in charred samples to verify its applicability to highly compromised samples. Results show that SEM-EDX is useful for identification of gunshot residues also in charred bones, and can be used as a valid method for verifying concordance between a lesion and a suspected tool in forensic anthropology but must be used with caution.