Which country was the first to abolish the anthropometry system in 1896?

The significant historical context surrounding the abolition of the anthropometry system in 1896 centers on the transition from this method of identification to fingerprinting, which proved to be more reliable and practical. Argentina is recognized as the first country to make this pivotal change, led by the pioneering work of Juan Vucetich, who introduced the use of fingerprinting for criminal identification.

This move came during a period when various systems, including Bertillonage (an early form of identification based on measurements of physical features), were being scrutinized for their effectiveness. Argentina's decision to abandon anthropometry in favor of fingerprints marked a watershed moment not only for law enforcement practices but also influenced other countries to follow suit, eventually leading to the widespread adoption of fingerprinting as the standard for personal identification.