Reflections on methods to estimate race and ancestry on reference osteological samples in the Brazilian context

Summary Backgroud The current article is part of the paper presented at the Colloque International Anthropo-Responsabilite (28–29 janvier 2021–musee du quai Branly–Jacques Chirac, Paris). Methodology The Teaching and Research Centre of Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology (NEPAAF) at the Laboratory of Archaeological Studies (LEA) from the Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP) have developed a pioneer project which deals with the compilation and organization of documentary data (antemortem phase), preparation, curation and bioanthropological analysis of the skeletons (postmortem phase) of an identified osteological collection of the Institute of Teaching and Research in Forensic Sciences (IEPCF) in order to conduct research and provide advanced training in Forensics. The IEPCF collection currently includes 143 unclaimed skeletons with extensive documentation including sex, age-at-death, statute, ancestry, place of birth and death, date of birth/death and cause of death were obtained from the public cemetery records. Identified osteological collections have been traditionally used to develop and test methods in Forensic Anthropology to identify the biological profile through estimation of age-at-death, sex, stature, and ancestry. Given the history of Brazil, the amassing of osteological reference collections is an important a challenge to be overcome to address the reality of violence and death. The main goal of the project is to create an anthropological sample to maximize the research and training potential, and to adapt international standard procedures and methods to Brazilian forensic contexts. Results-discussion Reliminary results from assessing ancestry methods using this collection are presented in this paper to assess some of the ethical and human implications of the continued use of race and ancestry in forensic anthropology. Using a sub-sample of 36 individuals (21 males and 15 females), two major methods were tested for their utility in a forensic context. Both the morphoscopic and metric methods performed poorly. Given the parameters of the blind testing, both methods provided reliable information that matched antemortem records equivalent to chance, and in 47–50% of the cases provide wrong information. Conclusion The results have implications for the adaption of methods to a forensic context in Brazil, and internationally with respect to human rights investigations.