Skeletal identification
Though race identification in the forensic context didn't start until around the late 1800s/early 1900s, race identification itself has been around since the early 1700s. Throughout our history there had been many attempts and false studies associated with race identification through the use of bones, one such popular example is the cephalic index (1700s), the measurement of skull index associated with race. Around a time when Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid were the main identifiable races of human, the cephalic index was a method to identify which skulls measurements belonged to which category. The cephalic index was measured by the ratio of maximum breadth to a maximum length of skull. Those who had a larger cephalic index were believed to be white, and those with a smaller cephalic index were believed to be African American. Scientists at the time believed a greater cephalic index meant bigger brains, and therefore a smarter individual. This reasoning was used in order to fuel the proslavery campaign because African Americans allegedly had the smallest cephalic index, and therefore had the brain capacity of a child. However, this was obviously all false and just a way for scientists to try and support their racist ideals with science. There were many overlaps between cephalic index measurements and categories, such as German skulls being nearly identical to Korean skull measurements. Although it was all false, race science continues to be studied today.
One such possible race science is the study of forensic anthropology. Though race is a societal construct, it is still believed that race can be identified biologically through skeletal remains. Forensic Anthropologists identify race through skeletal morphology. However, “In examining human genetic variation on a worldwide scale, Lewontin’s (1972) study of human variation using classic genetic markers has been cited as evidence that differences among human groups are too small to allow accurate classification. Lewontin estimated that 85% of human genetic variation is found within populations, 8% is found within populations of the same race or regional grouping, and only 6% is found among races or regions” (Ousley, Jantz, & Freid, 2009). Many of these genetic markers were found to overlap. However, it is still believed that these biological differences are major, as shown in the image to the right. Many diagrams that showcase skulls from different races choose the most major/stereotypical skull from that race, ignoring the massive spectrum of skeletal features between “races”. They also often choose very old skulls from centuries ago to showcase “race” rather than modern skulls. These diagrams are often fabricated in order to prove a false point.
However, it is still beleived to be possible to identify "race" from skeletal remains, but it is not nearly as easy or as clean cut as it is made out to be. Multivariate craniometric data is the most modern approach to race identification, given it relies on numerous measurements and large sample sizes from modern Americans and other populations around the world. So, although “race” identification is advancing in it’s accuracy, it still remains quite unreliable in the larger scope