1. BONES Bones may reveal someone’s identity, sex, age, height, race, background, & sometimes what happened to them before death Anthropology : the scientific study of all aspects of human development & interaction Forensic anthropology : studies unique identifying human differences on the remains of an individual

2. Our bones are alive Bones consume energy, make blood cells, and are capable of growth & repair b/c they receive blood flow Throughout our lives, bone is deposited, broken down, & replaced

3. How many??? Answer = 206 (only partially correct!) Adult = 206 Baby = 450!!! As we grow, bones in our body fuse together (so number goes down)

4. How bones connect Joint : location where bones meet (articulate) Parts : –Cartilage: wraps ends of bones for protection, keeps them from scraping against each other –Ligaments: bands of tissue connecting two or more bones (bone to bone) –Tendons: connect muscle to bone (muscle to bone)

6. Aging of bone Children build more bones at a faster rate than the rate of bones being broken down (so bones increase in size) After 30 years, process begins to reverse, bones deteriorate faster than they’re built Deterioration can be slowed with exercise # of bones & condition can tell investigator about age, health, whether they took in enough calcium

8. Osteobiography? “the story of a life told by bones” Examples: –Low bone density, poor teeth, signs of arthritis could mean nutritional deficiencies & disease –Right-handed person’s arm would be slightly bigger than left arm bones –Weight lifter’s bones would be denser than someone who didn’t work out –Sports can produce different kinds of wear & tear –X-ray would show previous fractures, artificial joints, & pins

9. Male vs female Male skeleton: –Usually thicker, rougher, appears quite bumpy (due to muscles pulling on them) –Due to male hormones, muscles are more developed, so require stronger attachment sites on bones (knees)

10. Skulls malefemale Frontal bone low & sloping Eye orbits square Lower jaw square Squarer chins Frontal bone higher, more rounded Eye orbits more circular Lower jaw sloped Chins rounder or more V-shaped

11. Pelvis malefemale Pelvic cavity = heart shaped Sacrum = longer, narrower, curved in Pelvic girdle more narrow Surface has scars if she’s had children Pelvic cavity = oval shaped Sacrum = shorter, wider, curved out Generally pelvic girdle wider

12. Thigh bones Thigh bones tend to angle inward toward knee in females; straighter down in males Femur also thicker on males

13. Age determination Age can be estimated by number of bones Sutures that mark bone joints (skull) Presence & location of cartilaginous lines (epiphyseal or growth plates)

14. Estimate height Measuring bones like humerus & femur Mathematical relationships can be used to calculate Separate tables for males, females, & different races

15. Distinguishing race Often difficult b/c of years of intermarriage (physical traits have blended) Race probably best indicated by skull & femur –Skull: shape of eye sockets, nasal spine, width of face, angulation of jaw & face, etc

16. Facial reconstruction Theoretically, it is possible to rebuild a face from the skeleton up Facial markers are positioned at critical locations on face, & clay is contoured to follow the height of the markers Computer programs also used