What can bones tell about the deceased?

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What can bones tell about the deceased?
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Age at time of death

• Babies
• Bones not yet fused
• Soft spot on top of skull
• Children
• Emerging teeth (adult teeth, wisdom teeth)
• Ossification (bones get denser, bigger in teens)
• Collar bones grow up until 18 years old
• Elderly
• Spikes develop on vertebrae
• Teeth, bone wear
• Arthritis

3
Gender of deceased

• Males
• Prominent features on skull
• Narrower hips, wider shoulders
• More developed points of muscle attachment
• Rectangular orbits
• Females
• 3rd finger longer than 1st
• Circular orbits
• Wider pelvis, especially after birthing

4
Height

• Anthropologists can reassemble skeleton and
  measure height, or use certain bones with
  appropriate formulae (most people are two and 2/3
  their length of their femur)

5
Disease

• Spina bifida, inadequate diets, some cancers
• Work related injuries, and wear

6
Ethnicity

• See attached sheets

7

• Types of bones
• Flat
• Long
• Short
• Irregular
• Types of joints
• Hinge
• Ball socket
• Pivot
• Gliding
• Immovable