Group names: Forensic Anthropology Web-Quest

Objectives:

 Understand what a forensic anthropologist does

 Determine the age, sex, and height of the “unknowns”
 Investigate forensic art and its application in finding
missing persons
 Determine the identities of the 4 “unknowns”

Before You Begin: Research and background information.

*Click on the following link and answer the questions.

http://www.sfu.museum/forensics/eng/pg_media-media_pg/anthropologie-
anthropology/

1) What is forensic anthropology?

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2) What differences can be found among racial groups? Be specific. (Look

under the ancestry title)
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3) What are some individualizing characteristics that can be helpful to the
scientist in the identification process?
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4) How can bones be used to determine age? Be specific!

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 5) What three points on a skeleton are used to determine gender? Be
specific!
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6) What bone is commonly used to determine height? _________________

*Click on the following link and answer the following questions.

http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/technique/learning-from-skeletons/

1) How can the skull be used to determine age?

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2) What can the teeth tell you about the deceased?

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3) The wrist bones (carpals) can help you determine what about the deceased?
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*Click on the following link and answer the questions.

http://anthropology.si.edu/writteninbone/facial_reconstruction.html

1) How are facial reconstructions created using only the skull on the
“unknown”? Be specific and detailed.
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2) What are the limitations of these reconstructions?

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3) What materials are used in a facial reconstruction?

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Step 1: Click on the link below and follow the instructions.

https://www.biologycorner.com/projects/bones/scene.html

A. Read over the information presented under the title “The Scene” and the
information presented on 5 missing persons near the bottom of the page.
You will want to reference back to this information before making a positive
identification of each “unknown.”
B. Read the instructions for determining the identity of the 4 sets of “unknown”
bones.
C. Split up the sets of bones so that each group member has an equal amount of
work to do.
D. You do NOT need to label every bone on the skeleton but you DO have to
include information about the gender and height of the skeleton and point
out your reasoning for your claims (include formulas or arrows to bones, etc)
 on the reconstructed skeleton. MAKE SURE TO LABEL THE
RECONSTRUCTED SKELETON WITH THE SET NUMBER.

Step 2: After you have determined the height of your “unknown” it is now time to
determine the age.

A. Click on the link at the bottom of the page that says (step 4-determining age)
B. Observe the different skulls (sutures) on this page and determine whether
your “unknown” set is over 35 or under 35. Write this information on the
reconstructed skeleton.
C. Click on (step 5- Facial Reconstruction) and follow the directions for step 3
below.

Step 3: Use the facial reconstructions as a final tool to determine the identity of the
“unknowns.” After this step write the name of the missing person that you feel best
fits your evidence collected on each set of bones.