Forensic Medicine · Identification & Forensic Anthropology

Superimposition & Tattoo Marks

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Superimposition

Definition: a technique in which a photograph of the skull is superimposed over an antemortem photograph of the suspected individual.

  • Principle: matching of anatomical landmarks of the skull with the facial features in the photograph.
  • Uses: identification from skeletal remains; helpful when only the skull is available.
Clinical

Superimposition is especially useful when fingerprints are unavailable and in burned and decomposed bodies. It is the most accurate method available when only skull remains exist for comparison.

Tattoo Marks

Tattoo marks are permanent identifying marks.