In recent years, several studies have focused on species discrimination of bone fragments by histological analysis. According to literature, the most consistent distinguishing features are Haversian canal and Haversian system areas. Nonetheless, there is a consistent overlap between human and non-human secondary osteon dimensions. One of the features that have never been analyzed for the purpose of species discrimination is the osteocyte lacuna, a small oblong cavity in which the osteocyte is locked in. The aim of this study is to verify whether there are significant quantitative differences between human and pig lacunae within secondary osteons with similar areas. Study sample comprises the midshaft of long bones (humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia, and fibula) of a medieval human adult and a juvenile pig. Sixty-eight secondary osteons with similar areas have been selected for each species and a total of 1224 osteocyte lacunae have been measured. For each osteon, the total number of lacunae was counted, and the following measurements were taken: minimum and maximum diameter, area, perimeter, and circularity of nine lacunae divided between inner, intermediate, and outer lacunae. Statistical analysis showed minimal differences between human and pig in the number of lacunae per osteons and in the minimum diameter (P > 0.05). On the contrary, a significant difference (P < 0.001) has been observed in the maximum diameter, perimeter, area, and circularity. Although there is the need for further research on different species and larger sample, these results highlighted the potential for the use of osteocyte lacunae as an additional parameter for species discrimination. Concerning the difference between the dimensions of osteocyte lacunae based on their position within the osteon (inner, intermediate, and outer lacunae), results showed that their size decreases from the cement line towards the Haversian canal both in human and pig.

One of the fundamental questions in forensic medicine and anthropology is whether or not a bone or bone fragment is human. Surprisingly at times for the extreme degradation of the bone (charred, old), DNA cannot be successfully performed and one must turn to other methods. Histological analysis at times can be proposed. However, the variability of a single human skeleton has never been tested. Forty-nine thin sections of long, flat, irregular and short bones were obtained from a well-preserved medieval adult human skeleton. A qualitative histomorphological analysis was performed in order to assess the presence of primary and secondary bone and the presence, absence and orientation of vascular canals. No histological sections exhibited woven or fibro-lamellar bone. Long bones showed a higher variability with an alternation within the same section of areas characterized by tightly packed secondary osteons and areas with scattered secondary osteons immersed in a lamellar matrix. Flat and irregular bones appeared to be characterized by a greater uniformity with scattered osteons in abundant interstitial lamellae. Some cases of “osteon banding” and “drifting osteons” were observed. Although Haversian bone represent the most frequent pattern, a histomorphological variability between different bones of the same individual, in different portions of the same bone, and in different parts of the same section has been observed. Therefore, the present study has highlighted the importance of extending research to whole skeletons without focusing only on single bones, in order to have a better understanding of the histological variability of both human and non-human bone.

In the global migration crisis, one of the challenges in the effort to identify deceased migrants is establishing their region of origin, which facilitates the search for ante mortem data to be compared with the post mortem information. This pilot study explores the potential of using stable isotope analysis to distinguish between individuals coming from West Africa and the Horn of Africa. Six individuals (four of known origin and two of unknown origin) were sampled. δ¹³C_{VPDB(keratin)}, δ¹⁵N_{VPDB(keratin)} and δ¹⁸O_{VSMOW(keratin)} of hair were analysed using Elemental Analyzers coupled with Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS). δ¹⁸O_{VSMOW(carbonate)} and δ¹³C_{VPDB(carbonate)} of bone were analysed using GasBench II with IRMS, while ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr composition was determined in bone and dental enamel using laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The stable isotope compositions of the individual from the Horn of Africa differed from the other individuals. The differences found between ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of enamel and bone and between δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C in bone and hair reflect changes in sources of food and water in accordance with regionally typical migration journeys. The analysis of multiple stable isotopes delivered promising results, allowing us to narrow down the region of origin of deceased migrants and corroborate the information about the migration journey.