Unit 11 Anthropology

Anthropology studies human skeletal remains to determine the age, sex and 
race of the deceased identifies any illnesses or injuries that he or she may have 
suffered establish time of death examines location and circumstances in which the bones 
were found

When bones are found anthropologists are asked: Are the bones human? What are the biological characteristics (size, age, sex and race) of 
the individual? How long has the person been dead? What is the cause and manner of death?

Determining whether bones are human: can be very difficult especially when a full skeleton is not 
found  Ex. front paw bones of a bear are similar to those of 
 human hand; ribs from sheep and deer resemble human 
 ribs bones have bumps, grooves, indentations and other 
characteristics according to their function in the body and 
what species that body belongs to these features, as well as overall size and thickness, are 
used to determine species

Determining age: can only guess age when just bones are available but this estimate 
is more accurate for younger victims because they follow a 
predictable growth and maturation pattern late in life, after maturation process is complete, changes occur at a 
much slower rate causing wider ranges in age estimations Most useful bones: 1. Teeth: appearance of permanent teeth is complete usually by about age 12 wisdom teeth, the last to appear, erupt by age 18

2. Skull little use for age estimation in adults infant skulls are in several pieces which fuse together along suture 
lines but this fusion occurs in such a widely variable pattern that it is 
not very accurate 3. Long Bones of the Legs and Arms: these bones change as the body ages growth plates within them remain open as they grow, but then 
close up when growth comes to an end (epiphyseal union) help determine ages younger than 25, when the bones have 
completed their growth

4. Pelvis: the symphysis, a thin band of cartilage that attaches your pelvis to 
your spinal column, has a zigzag shape in the beginning but it 
straightens as you age, stopping when you are about 50 5. Ribs: areas where ribs join the breastbone are smooth and round when 
you're young, but become pitted and sharp as you age these junctions can narrow age prediction to within 1.5 years up to 
age 30 and within 5 years up to age 70 6. Bone Density: bones lose calcium as you age and become less dense X-rays reveal bone density

Determining Sex: more difficult if children because gender-specific changes in 
skeletons don't appear until puberty diameters of the heads of the humerus, the radius and femur are 
larger in males most reliable for sex determination is pelvis  --female: wider pelvis, pelvic outlet and sciatic notch male skulls: more distinct ridges and crests and are larger and 
thicker; slightly curved posterior ramus of mandible (straight in 
females)

Determining race: extremely difficult using skeletal remains because no single 
skeletal trait is racially distinct Caucasians:  -high, rounded or square skulls, straight faces and narrow, 
 protruding noses  -eye sockets are triangular  -forward cure to femurs Negroid:  -lower and narrower skulls and wider, flatter noses with 
 prominent, protruding teeth  -eye sockets usually square  -femurs are straighter

Mongoloids:  -broad round skulls with an arched profile  -eye sockets are round with wide facial dimensions skeleton of someone with mixed racial origins shares the ancestral 
characteristics of its ancestors and makes racial determinations 
impossible