Chapter 14 – Human Remains

1. Chapter 14 – Human Remains

2. Learning Objectives Learn how anthropologists use bones to determine whether remains are human; to determine the age, sex, and race of an individual; to estimate height; and to determine when death could have occurred.

3. Bones Referring back to the episode of Bones where the remains of a person was discovered in a suit case – when there is so little remains left, how do forensic scientists go about identifying an unknown individual, and what information can yield information about that person’s fate?

4. Forensic anthropology A type of physical anthropology that specializes in the human skeletal system. Identifies victims and sometimes cause of death. Examine bodies that have decomposed, been badly burned or mummified. Conclusions reached are used in a court of law

5. Possible inferences Are remains human? One individual or several? When did death occur Gender, age, and race. Cause of death-homicide, suicide, accident, or natural cause Height, body weight, and physique. Can a facial reconstruction be performed?

6. Human Skeleton Provides structure and rigidity. Protects soft tissue and internal organs. Protects the brain. Provides attachment site for muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Produces red blood cells. Serves as storage for minerals.

7. Human skeleton Long bones are longer than wide – arms, legs, feet. Short bones are as long as wide –wrist and ankle. Flat bones are flat and enclose soft organs – skull, scapula, sternum, hip, ribs. Irregular bones are irregularly shaped – vertebrae and some bones of skull.

8. Human Skeletal System http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPrxQkjjExI