THE SECRET’S
IN THE
BONES
A Forensic Anthropology
Lab Investigation
THE SECRET’S IN THE BONES
A Forensic Anthropology Lab Investigation
PROBLEM:
At a nearby construction zone, workers have made a startling discovery. Several bones of a human skeleton were uncovered by
workers and investigators were called in to survey the scene. The bones have been identified as human remains and, since there
are no graveyards within miles of the site, investigators believe that this is a crime scene. The bones appear to have been buried
within the past 5 years and investigators need your help. As a forensic anthropologist, you will be able to assist the investigators in
determining information about the victim in an attempt to solve the case.
MATERIALS:
Human Remains
Metric Ruler
Calculator
Formulas for Height Calculations worksheet
PROCEDURES:
❑ Uncover the skeletal remains
❑ Identify the bones that you have uncovered and list them on your student data sheet.
❑ Next, you will need to make observations about the skull. Often, clues such as ancestry and biological sex can be determined
based on the skull. Discuss possible information that can be obtained from this skull and record your observations on your
student data sheet.
❑ Now, you will observe the pelvis of the victim. Often, clues such as sex and number of children (for women) can be determined
by looking at the pelvic bone. Discuss possible information that can be obtained from the pelvis of the victim and record your
observations on your student data sheet.
❑ Next, you will observe the humerus bone. Measure the length from the center point of the top of the bone to the center point of
the bottom of the bone. Record your data on the student data sheet and then calculate the height of the victim by using your
formula height calculation sheet.
❑ Next, you will observe the femur. Measure the length of the femur and record your data on the student data sheet. Then
calculate the height of the victim by using your formula height calculation sheet.
MISSING PERSONS DATABASE:
Investigators’ search of the missing persons database within the past 5 years has turned up the following information. Use the
clues that you have uncovered so far to identify a possible victim.
MISSING PERSON #1: MISSING PERSON #2: MISSING PERSON #3: MISSING PERSON #4:
Name: Stephan Grant Name: Paul McCreary Name: Win Che Ling Name: Stacy Fairbanks
Age: 27 Age: 45 Age: 35 Age: 23
Ancestry: African Ancestry: European Ancestry: Asian Ancestry: European
Height: 6’5’’ Height: 5’6’’ Height: 5’1’’ Height: 5’5’’
Sex: Male Sex: Male Sex: Female Sex: Female
©The Trendy Science Teacher
Student data worksheet
1. Identify the skeletal remains found and list them below.
1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________
4. ____________________________
2. Observe the skull and answer the following questions:
1. What is the probable biological sex of the victim?_________________________________
2. What features led you to your answer in #1?_____________________________________
3. What is the probable ancestry of the victim?_____________________________________
4. What features led you to your answer in #3?____________________________________
3. Observe the pelvic bone and answer the following questions:
1. What is the probable biological sex of the victim?__________________________________
2. Does this match your hypothesis from the skull?_________________________________
4. Observe the humerus bone and answer the following questions:
1. What is the length (in cm) of the humerus bone?__________________________________
2. Approximately how tall is the victim?________(cm) ___________ (m) __________(ft)
5. Observe the femur bone and answer the following questions:
1. What is the length (in cm) of the femur?_________________________________________
2. Approximately how tall is the victim?________(cm) __________(m) ___________ (ft)
3. Does this match your data from the humerus?___________________________________
6. Based on the information that you have obtained,
which missing person do you believe matches the
remains found at the construction site?
_______________________________________________
7. What other forensic tests could be performed to test
your deductions?
_______________________________________________
©The Trendy Science Teacher
