title: Dismemberment and disarticulation: A forensic anthropological approach.
abstract: The dismemberment of a corpse is fairly rare in forensic medicine. It is usually performed with different types of sharp tools and used as a method of concealing the body and thus erasing proof of murder. In this context, the disarticulation of body parts is an even rarer event. The authors present the analysis of six dismemberment cases (well-preserved corpses or skeletonized remains with clear signs of dismemberment), arising from different contexts and in which different types of sharp tools were used. Two cases in particular showed peculiar features where separation of the forearms and limbs from the rest of the body was performed not by cutting through bones but through a meticulous disarticulation. The importance of a thorough anthropological investigation is thus highlighted, since it provides crucial information on the manner of dismemberment/disarticulation, the types of tools used and the general context in which the crime was perpetrated.
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia ed Odontologia Forense, Istituto di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, V. Mangiagalli 37, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia ed Odontologia Forense, Istituto di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, V. Mangiagalli 37, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: albertoamadasi@libero.it.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amadasi
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia ed Odontologia Forense, Istituto di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, V. Mangiagalli 37, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cappella
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia ed Odontologia Forense, Istituto di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, V. Mangiagalli 37, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazzarelli
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia ed Odontologia Forense, Istituto di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, V. Mangiagalli 37, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magli
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia ed Odontologia Forense, Istituto di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, V. Mangiagalli 37, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gibelli
authors.affiliation: CNR, Dipartimento di Geologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.affiliation: Università Carlo Cattaneo, C.so Matteotti, 22, 21053 Castellanza, VA, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picozzi
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia ed Odontologia Forense, Istituto di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, V. Mangiagalli 37, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gentilomo
authors.affiliation: LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia ed Odontologia Forense, Istituto di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, V. Mangiagalli 37, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D056146:Corpse Dismemberment; D004188:Disarticulation; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054041:Weapons
keywords: Cut marks; Disarticulation; Dismemberment; Forensic anthropology; Forensic science; Saw marks