Introduction The main bones were interested in: *Cranium/Skull
*Pelvis *Tibia *Femur *Humerus
Slide 3
What Can We Learn? Determination of Sex: -Pelvis -Skull
Determination of Race: -Skull Approximate Age: -Growth of long
bones Approximate Stature: -Length of long bones
Slide 4
Determination of Sex The Pelvis is the best area to study sex
-Females have wider sub pubic angles for giving birth
Slide 5
Determination of Sex The Cranium/Skull is also very helpful in
determining sex - Mens chins are significantly more square and
their ridges and crests are more pronounced
Slide 6
Determination of Race Forensic Anthropologists place bones in
three races: Caucasian, Asian and African Its very difficult to
determine race because many people are biracial and also not all
individuals have skeletal traits that are consistent w/ their race
The nasal index (the ratio of the width to the height of the nose
multiplied by 100), nasal spine, prognathism (extended lower jaw),
and the shape of the eye orbits all help determine race
Slide 7
Determination of Race Caucasian -Nasal index:
Determination of Race African: -Nasal index:>.53 -Nasal
Spine: Very small spine -Prognathism:Prognathic -Eye orbitals:
Rectangular or square
Slide 10
Determination of Age We use teeth, bone fusion, the hardness,
wear and tear, and any damages to determine age
Slide 11
Determination of Age 0-5: teeth are best 6-25: fusion starts
and ends at about 25 25-40 bones are very hard 40+: wear and tear
on bones
Slide 12
Determination of Stature Our long bone length (femur, tibia,
humerus) is proportional to height Formula for height: 2.89(humerus
length)+78.10 (all in cm) Example: If the humerus length=30.8,
their height would be determined by 2.89(30.8)+78.10 cm
Slide 13
Miscellaneous Information We can find out how they died based
on any trauma (gunshots to head, etc.) Any evidence of post mortem
trauma such as bite-marks (cannibalism) Any activities the victim
enjoyed, example: You can find out different activities the victim
liked based on their damage and wear and tear in certain areas of
their body