Usefulness of the analysis of the average ridge width of fingerprints in archaeological research

Authors

  • Daria Gromnicka Department of Anthropology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences
  • Bartosz Wałecki Department of Anthropology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1898-6773.85.1.02

Keywords:

average ridge width, epidermal ridges, archeology, fingerprints, dermatoglyphs, derma

Abstract

Skin ridges (dermatoglyphs or fingerprints) are a characteristic pattern of sulci on the skin of primates which appear on the entire hand palm and on the soles of the feet. Fingerprints are unique, irremovable and invariable which allows bio-identification of specific individuals. The aim of the study was to investigate the usefulness of the analysis of the average width of the skin ridges in archaeological research by analyzing the foot and hand prints found on 7 artifacts dating from the Middle Ages.

An attempt was made to describe the preserved skin slate prints, as well as details of the construction of the prints. The fingers used in forming the pottery were recognized. Attempts were made to read the context of individual impressions. In the study, the following features were analyzed: legibility and suitability of the left imprint for the analysis, the possibility of determining the type of figures (whorls, loops, archs), the possibility of determining the minutiae, the density of the skin ridges left on the surface of the ceramics and the width of the skin ridges left on the surface of the ceramics. The classification of fingerprint minutiae proposed by Czesław Grzeszyk (1970) was used as well as classification of epidermal ridges peoposed by Lestrange (1953) and modified by Bochenska (1964) and Rogucka (1968).

Analysis of the material allowed to conclude that imprints left on building ceramics can be as useful as those imprinted on utilitarian ceramics, despite differences in the composition of the raw material used in production. However, they require more skill to examine, as the impressions are often incomplete which may be related to the fillers added to the mass. Minutiae were evident on the impressions examined, and single bifurcation was the most common form. The tactile figure most commonly found on the fingertip impressions was the loop. It was not possible to delineate Galton lines due to the wiping of the triple ray. Due to the high illegibility of the prints, it was assumed with a high degree of uncertainty that the fingerprints belonged to adults, but the gender could not be determined. Noteworthy were the prints printed on the brick belonging to children. On the mentioned artifact, there is a footprint of a child aged 1–3 years and a handprint of a crawling infant, which allowed us to conclude that the children were under the care of craftsmen.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alcaraz-Fossoul J, Mancenido M, Soignard E, Silverman N. 2018. Application of 3D Imaging Technology to Latent Fingermark Aging Studies. J Forensic Sci 64(2):570–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13891
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13891

Białek I, Rodzińska-Nowak J. 2006. Ślady linii papilarnych na ceramice z okresu wpływów rzymskich z osady kultury przeworskiej w Jakuszowicach, stan.2, gm. Kazimierza Wielkiego, woj. Świętokrzyskie. In: J Rodzińska-Nowak, editor. Jakuszowice stanowisko 2. Ceramika z osady kultury przeworskiej z młodszego I późnego okresu wpływów rzymskich I wczesnej fazy okresu wędrówek ludów. Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, Prace Archeologiczne 61, Kraków, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Instytut Archeologii.
View in Google Scholar

Fauld H. 1923. A Manual of Practical Dactylography. “Police review” publishing Company, Limited.
View in Google Scholar

Galton F. 1893. Identification. letter in Nature 48:222. https://doi.org/10.1038/048222a0
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/048222a0

Grzeszyk C. 1992. Daktyloskopia. Warszawa: PWN.
View in Google Scholar

Kamp KA, Timmerman N, Lind G, Graybill J, Natowsky I. 1999. Discovering Childhood: Using Fingerprints to Find Children in the Archaeological Record. American Antiquity 64(2):309–15. https://doi.org/10.2307/2694281
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2694281

Králík M, Novotný V, Oliva M. 2002. Fingerprint on The Venus of Dolní Věstonice I. Anthropologie 40(2):107–13.
View in Google Scholar

Machhout M. 2017. Improvement of the Fingerprint Recognition Process. International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences 7(2):1–16. https://doi.org/10.5121/ijbb.2017.7201
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.5121/ijbb.2017.7201

Montagna W, Parakkal PF. 1974.The structure of the skin. New York and London: Academic Press.
View in Google Scholar

Moszczyński J. 1997. Daktyloskopia zarys teorii i praktyki. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Centralnego Laboratorium Kryminalistycznego KGP w Warszawie.
View in Google Scholar

Shier D, Butler J, Lewis R. 2010. Hole’s Human Anatomy and Physiology. New York: McGraw-Hill.
View in Google Scholar

Stolarek J. 2008. Identyfikacja użytkownika na podstawie analizy linii papilarnych. [In Polish]. Thesis. Politechnika Łódzka.
View in Google Scholar

Szczepański T. 2019. Dactyloscopyover the centuries. Issues of Forensic Science 303(1):47–54. https://doi.org/10.34836/pk.2019.303.2
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.34836/pk.2019.303.2

Wałecki B. 2019. Przydatność odcisków stóp i dłoni na średniowiecznej i nowożytnej ceramice budowlanej do oceny organizacji i warunków pracy rzemieślników [In Polish]. Master thesis. Wrocław, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy we Wrocławiu.
View in Google Scholar

Wooi K, Man Lau W. 2015. skin deep: the basics of human skin structure and drugpenetration. Percutaneous Penetration Enhancers Chemical Methods in Penetration Enhancement. Berlin: Springer.
View in Google Scholar

Wójcik A, Rogoża E, Drzewiecka K, Wudarczyk M. 2014. Fingerprinting and improvement of the readability of the fingerprints of corpses. Problemy Kryminalistyki 286(4):86–91. https://doi.org/10.34836/pk.2014.286.8
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.34836/pk.2014.286.8

Downloads

Published

2022-02-25

How to Cite

Gromnicka, D., & Wałecki, B. (2022). Usefulness of the analysis of the average ridge width of fingerprints in archaeological research. Anthropological Review, 85(1), 31–49. https://doi.org/10.18778/1898-6773.85.1.02

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.