Sherlock Bones

PAK 2 LABS

REMEMBER MAKE YOUR ANSWERS STAND OUT!!

Sherlock Bones: Identification of Skeletal Remains

LAB INVESTIGATION

You will need to READ the instructions found in the LAB FOLDER to complete this lab. You will need to check this folder out from Ms. Caro directly.

Objectives:

• Become familiar with tools and key skeletal features used by forensic anthropologists

• Utilize qualitative observations and quantitative measurements to determine the sex, race, height, and approximate age of an individual at the time of death.

Scenario:

Your local police department has been searching for three individuals who have been reported missing within the last two years. Recent news of the discovery of human bones in the area has given rise to new hope of identifying one of these individuals. As Sherlock Bones, the lead forensic anthropologist on the case, it is your job to provide the authorities with a physical description of the individual. You will be assigned 1 of 3 different skeletons by Ms. Caro. Good luck!!

PRELAB QUESTION:

1. Write a list of skeletal traits that you believe could be used to help identify an individual.

Density of bone, length of bone, width of pelvis, width of scalpula, length of fingers.

2. Which numbered skeleton were you assigned by Ms. Caro?

Skeleton #2

DATA

For each of the following tables, record the results that you measure and highlight the closest match in the columns to the right.

SEX DETERMINATION

Table 1: Pelvis

|Trait |Result |Female |Male |

|Sub-Pubic Arch |81° |>90° |