Forensic Anthropology

Forensic Anthropology is concerned with the 206 bones that make up the human skeleton Male skeleton=12 pounds Female skeleton=10 pounds

What questions can be answered with the discovery of a skeleton? Age at time of death? Long bones of arms and legs as well as the skull are important The fusion state of the bones can tell if a person was an infant or child. Etc. The process of fusion ends at age 30 Detectable skull differences are noted in childhood Infant skull is made of sutures that eventually close

What gender? Clearest indication is the skull and pelvis Male pelvis is narrow and steep Females have much broader and shallow pelvis

What race? Variations in eye socket and nose categorize people into 3 racial groups

What was the height? Intact corpse is not difficult to measure A dismembered corpse is measured using the long limbs and the total height

Any debilitating illnesses? And illness that affects the bone like rickets and polio or fractures can be seen with skeletons Clues to occupation can be seen Right handed or left?