Positive Identification on the Skull From Colonial Era in Balai Pemuda, Surabaya

Abstract

Dua tengkorak manusia ditemukan saat pembangunan ruang bawah tanah pada 30 November 2016 hingga 1 Desember 2016, di Balai Pemuda, Surabaya, salah satu bangunan peninggalan masa kolonial di Indonesia. Penemuan dua tengkorak menimbulkan pertanyaan, seperti identitas dan konteks keberadaannya. Kedua tengkorak tersebut diberi kode identitas tengkorak 160689 dan tengkorak 160690. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkap identitas tengkorak 160689 dan tengkorak 160690 berdasarkan prosedur identifikasi positif antropologi forensik. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode prosedur identifikasi antropologi forensik. Metode ini diterapkan secara berurutan, pertama umur, kedua jenis kelamin, ketiga afiliasi populasi, keempat tinggi badan, dan terakhir karakteristik individu. Menariknya, karakteristik individu tengkorak 160690 ditemukan sejumlah bukti berbeda yang menjelaskan identitasnya, yaitu, modifikasi gigi, jejak penyakit, dan bentuk kepala asimetris. Berdasarkan hasil identifikasi positif pada tengkorak 160689 dan tengkorak 160690 menunjukkan bahwa kedua tengkorak tersebut berjenis kelamin perempuan dan berafiliasi dengan populasi ras Mongoloid. Terakhir, karakteristik individu dan deformasi pada daerah oksipital mengindikasikan deformasi yang tidak disengaja yang disebabkan oleh tekanan terus menerus pada sisi kiri daerah oksipital. Plagiocephaly bisa jadi akibat dari posisi tidur yang salah selama masa kanak-kanak.

Two human skulls were found during basement construction from November 30^th, 2016, to December 1^st, 2016, in Balai Pemuda, Surabaya, one of Indonesia's colonial-era buildings. The discovery of two skulls raised questions, such as the identity and its context of existence. Both skulls were coded as skull 160689 and 160690. This research aimed to reveal the identity of skull 160689 and 160690 based on the positive identification procedure of forensic anthropology. This research applies the method of the forensic anthropology identification procedure. This method was used sequentially, firstly age, secondly gender, thirdly population affiliation, fourthly stature, and lastly, individual characteristics. Interestingly, the individual characteristics of skull 160690 have distinct evidence for explaining its identity, for instance, dental modification, disease markers, and asymmetrical head shape. Based on the positive identification results on skull 160689 and 160690 showed both skulls were female and affiliated with Mongoloid population. At last, individual characteristics and deformation on the occipital area were indicated as an unintentional deformation caused by pressure continuously on the left side of the occipital area. Plagiocephaly could be a result of incorrect sleeping position during childhood.