Bone Forensic Anthropologists Essay

1 How did your findings compare to the rest of your team and to the actual data provided by your teacher? What could account for any variation? 2 Why do you think the pelvis is often the first bone forensic anthropologists look to in determining sex from skeletal remains? The pelvis is the first bone anthropologist look at because a male can not fit a human head through their pelvis. A female (the one that is pregnant) can fit a babies head through her pelvis because its wide enough and doesnt have anything blocking where the baby comes out at. 3 The developmental occurrences you used to determine age stopped at age 25. What are other clues a forensic anthropologist may be able to use to determine age if the bones belong to a person over age 25? Determining the age of a sub-adult skeleton is examination of the teeth and jaw by a forensic anthropologist. However, a comparative analysis may be made using the skull sutures and epiphyseal fusion in the young-adult skeleton. Sutures are the zigzag â€Å"seams† where the bones of the skull meet. Endocranial sutures (inside the skull) are more reliable as an aging method than is ectocranial suture analysis. 4 What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative evidence? Explain how both types of measurements played a role in this activity. Quantitative data Observations that do not involve numbers. These observations were definitely used in this activity when we obsered things like â€Å"heart-shaped vs. round pelvis† or â€Å"blunt vs. sharp upper eye sockets. Quantitative observations are numerical observations. We also used these in this activity for measurements on the sub-pubic angle, the length of leg and arm bones, the nasal index, etc. 5 To analyze the long bones, the femur and the humerus, you looked at bone markings such as condyles, tuberosities and trochanters. Look back at the photographs and at the bone markings on your Maniken ®. How would you describe these markings in your own words? Which features do you think  separate each class of markings from the others? 1. In this activity, you were able to analyze skeletal remains in order to determine four particular traits of an individual. In a real life situation, scientists could provide a more detailed description of the individual based on additional information that can be acquired from the bones of this person. Describe at least two other pieces of information you could possibly learn from bone. Make sure to provide a specific example for each piece of information.