Forensic Anthropology

The 206 bones of the human skeleton

can also tell a story.

video
Specialists called forensic anthropologists are
trained to analyze the secrets locked in a bone’s
shape and structure and can use this
information to help solve crimes, trace human
origins, or identify those who have gone
missing
Introduction
The main bones we’re interested
in:
*Cranium/Skull
*Pelvis
*Tibia
*Femur
*Humerus
The specific structure of your bones
reveals information about your
gender
 height
 age
ethnicity.
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
Determination of Sex
The Pelvis is the best area to study sex
-Females have wider sub pubic angles for giving birth
In general, males have larger and bigger muscles, therefore
those areas of the bones where muscles attach tend to be
larger and rougher than the same areas on female bones.
With this in mind, take a close look at each skull,
especially, the browridge (the ridge above the eye socket ),
mastoid process (part of a temporal bone that extends down
behind the ear), and external occipital protuberance which
covers the back lower part of the head (it may protrude like
a hook in the male, called an inion hook). You may have
observed the similar size of the occipital protuberance in
these two skulls. Analyzing human skeletal remains often
aren't cut and dry.
Anthropologists need to examine numerous characteristics
by making visual comparisons and taking measurements
before forming their conclusions
Determination of Sex
The Cranium/Skull is also very helpful in determining
sex
- Men’s chins are significantly more square and their
ridges and crests are more pronounced
Determination of Race
Forensic Anthropologists place bones in three races:
Caucasoid (includes European, Middle Eastern, and East Indian
descent),
Negroid (African, Aborigine, and Melanesian), and
Mongoloids (Asian, Native American, and Polynesian).
 It’s very difficult to determine race because many people are
biracial and also not all individuals have skeletal traits that are
consistent with 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
Determination of Race
Caucasian
-Nasal index: <.48
-Nasal Spine: Prominent
-Prognathism: Straight
-Eye orbitals: Rounded, somewhat square

• Caucasoids: have long narrow nasal aperture, triangular

palate, oval orbitz, narrow zygomatic arches, and
narrow mandibles.
Determination of Race
Asian:
-Nasal index: .48-.53
-Nasal Spine: somewhat prominent
-Prornathism: Variable
-Eye orbitals: Rounded, somewhat circular
• Mongoloids: have a more rounded nasal aperture, a
parabolic palate, rounded orbits, wide zygomatic
arches, and more pointed mandibles.
Determination of Race
African:
-Nasal index:>.53
-Nasal Spine: Very small spine
-Prognathism:Prognathic
-Eye orbitals: Rectangular or square

• Negroids: have a wide nasal aperture, a rectangular

palate, square orbits, and more pronounced zygomatic
arches. The long bones are also longer and have less
curvature and greater density.
Over time there has been a
greater amount of
interracial mixing making
the distinctions between
features for race more
difficult to characterize.
Determination of Age
We use teeth, bone fusion, the hardness, wear and tear,
and any damages to determine age
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
Determination
of Age
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
BUT!!!
Males and females have slightly
different body proportions, with
females having relatively longer
legs and males having relatively
longer arms.

Therefore, we use different

mathematical formulas to
estimate height.
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 or chewed on by animals)
Any activities the victim enjoyed, example: You can
find out different activities the victim liked based on
their damage and “wear and tear” and size in certain
areas of their body
 ex- swimmers versus runners
 tennis players racket arm…
Last week, a young couple was out for an early
morning run.
Stopping to catch a drink, they stumbled upon what
appeared to be a human skull. More bones were later
located at the scene and are available for your
examination.
 
In this project, you will assume the role
of a forensic anthropologist and
complete a detailed examination of
skeletal remains.
Forensic anthropologists use a
combination of quantitative and
qualitative measures to predict traits
from bone
 Proficient Example
 On February 23, 2015, some joggers discovered skeletal remains in
Parktown Park. With a backlog of missing persons, it was crucial
to come up with a preliminary identification of the bones.
 Our forensic anthropology team believes that the recovered bones
are from a 25 year old, Asian female, between 5’3’’ and 5’5’’.
Cause of death is not known at this time. Based on the 95 degree
angle of the ….., and ….., we are fairly confident in saying that the
deceased is a female. Due to the fact that the …… measured in the
range of …., and the …. was….., the races was determined to be
…… INCLUDE SEX, AGE, RACE AND HEIGHT
JUSTIFICATIONS…
 Recommendations for further analysis include …. And ….. In
similar past cases, definite identity was made through…. and the
families were able to receive closure.
 In conclusion, we recommend that … tests be run on all missing
persons meeting the description of a …………