Transcript and then answer the questions.

Let the bones tell the story!
What role do anthropologists play in solving crimes?
Watch the video and then answer the questions.
 What is forensic anthropology?
 What does a physical anthropologist investigate?
 What four things does an anthropologist want to know about a skeleton?
 What bones are most useful for developing a profile? Explain how each of these
bones are used.
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGISTS analyze
skeletal remains to determine the identity of a
victim as well as their life history, cause of
death, or other clues about a crime.
Main Characteristics:
 Sex - Determined by examining the skull,
pelvis, humerus, and femur
Which skull would belong to a female?
Age and stature (height/build) – Determined
by analyzing the development of the teeth, bone
growth, cranial suture lines, and the length of
specific bones, such as the femur.
 Race – Determined by analyzing the skull for
characteristics that are common among people
of different races.
Career Connection
What does a forensic
anthropologist do?
Which pelvis would belong to a female?
What else can we learn from bones?
DNA samples can be collected from bone, teeth, and hair to
provide clues to a person’s identity.
Scientists may also be able to gain clues as to a person’s past,
recent injuries, or the cause of death based on bone fractures
and other signs of trauma.
Damage from a hammer
Healed Fractures
Gunshot Wounds
Forensic Tools & Techniques
Watch the video and then answer the questions.
 What techniques or tools did the scientists use to find the body?
 What is “disturbed soil”? What might “disturbed soil” indicate?
 How did the scientists narrow down the areas to investigate?
 Did the scientists find a body?
Reading the Remains
Watch the video and then answer the questions.
 What information is provided for law enforcement agencies?

How many skeletons do they have in their collection?
 What can be learned about a skeleton from each tool listed below?
CT Scan –
X- ray –
Mass spectrometer –
Scanning electron microscope –
DNA Analysis –
Review Questions: Parts of the
skeleton
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What is the other bone in the shoulder?
What is the bone in the middle of the chest?
What are the bones that touch the brain (the group name)?
What are the skull bones that do not touch the brain (the group
name)?
What are the bones of the neck (the group name & how many?)
What are the bones of the upper back (the group name & how
many?)
What are the bones of the lower back (the group name & how
many?)
What are the bones of the hand (the group name & how many)?
Review Questions: Parts of the
skeleton
• What are the bones of the wrist (the group name & how
many)?
• What are the bones of the foot (the group name & how
many)?
• What are the bones of the ankle (the group name & how
many)?
• What are the bones of the fingers (the group name & how
many)?
• What are the bones of the toes (the group name & how
many)?
• How many bones are in a human skeleton?
• Describe how any bone in the right arm compares to the
same bone in the left arm.
Review Questions
• How does a Pelvis illustrate Gender differences?
• Describe how a Skull illustrates: Gender; Race and Age
• Describe how Long bones in the arm or leg illustrates:
Height and Age.
• In addition to gender, race, height and age, what additional
information can be determine using bones/skeletal
remains.
• Compare and contrast Adult bones vs. Child's bones:
Epiphyseal Plate; Epiphyseal Line and Skull Sutures.
• Broken bones, once healed, are stronger than before they
break. What do they form that shows this?
• A previously broken bone can be identified by X-ray. How
can this be used to help identify possible child abuse?
Review Questions: Odontology
• Are Bite Marks Individual or Class
characteristic? Why?
• What information can be determined using teeth
or dental remains? How can this information
assists in crime scene investigations?
• Name, and number, the adult and child teeth
diagrams (Refer to the Odontology Handout on
class website).
• Using ANY graphic organizer, compare and
contrast Adult vs. Child's teeth.