1. Forensic Anthropology

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

3. 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

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

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

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

7. 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?