Download Forensic Anthropology Skeleton Notes

Name ___________________________________________________ Period ____________ Date ___________________
Forensic Anthropology
How many bones are in the human body?
What role do anthropologists play in solving crimes?

What does a physical anthropologist investigate?

What four things do we want to know about a skeleton?

What bones are more useful for developing a profile of a person? Explain how they
are used.
Forensic Anthropologists

Analyze remains to determine identity of a victim
o Also can determine his/her life ____________________________, ______________________
of death, or other ________________________ about crime

Main characteristics
o Sex

Examining the ____________________, _______________________,
____________________________, and ________________________.
o Age and Stature (height/build)

Analyzing development of ________________________, bone growth, cranial
____________________________ lines, and _________________________ of specific
bones ex: femur
o Race

Analyzing skull for ____________________________________ that are common
among people of different races
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Which skull would belong to a female?
Which pelvis would belong to a female?
Age
Disappearance of suture marks
2
What else can we learn from bones?

________________________ samples can be collected from bone, teeth, and hair to provide
clues to a person’s ____________________________

Scientists may also be able to gain clues as to a person’s past, recent
____________________________, or the cause of death based on bone _________________________
and other signs of _________________________
Reading the Remains

What information do they provide for law enforcement agencies?

How many skeletons do they have in their collection?

What do they learn about a skeleton from each tool?
o CT scan –
o X-Ray –
o Mass spectrometer –
o Scanning electron microscope –
o DNA Analysis –
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