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01.05 Assignment

The forensic anthropology team was called to Itasca State Park to examine scattered human bones found by a hiker. After analyzing the bones in the lab, the team determined there were 22 total bones inventoried, including bones from both the axial and appendicular skeleton. The maximum number of individuals (MNI) represented was 4, as evidenced by the 4 right femurs found. The team would tell the sheriff it is unlikely the bones belong to the 3 missing brothers, since an extra femur was present indicating at least 4 individuals.

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51 views5 pages

01.05 Assignment

The forensic anthropology team was called to Itasca State Park to examine scattered human bones found by a hiker. After analyzing the bones in the lab, the team determined there were 22 total bones inventoried, including bones from both the axial and appendicular skeleton. The maximum number of individuals (MNI) represented was 4, as evidenced by the 4 right femurs found. The team would tell the sheriff it is unlikely the bones belong to the 3 missing brothers, since an extra femur was present indicating at least 4 individuals.

Uploaded by

Sehar Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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01.

05 - The Human Skeleton (32 Points)

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01.05 The Human Skeleton Assignment

Directions: Read the case study below and answer the questions that follow.
Note: if you are stuck please watch this short help video (click here).

Case Study
What Do We Tell the Sheriff? Determining Minimum Numbers of Individuals (MNI) for a Scatter of Human Bones. — Phoebe R. Stubblefield and Elizabeth
A. Scharf

It is a gorgeous fall day, and people are enjoying it by bicycling, hiking, and picnicking at Itasca State Park. The day's mood changes, however, when you
receive a phone call from the local sheriff's office asking your forensic anthropology team to come out to the state park.

"A hiker found some bones near Lake Itasca and wants us to come out and identify them. We're wondering if these are the three brothers who
disappeared last summer. Can you help us?"

You tell them that you'll be there as soon as possible and quickly place a few calls to other members of your forensic team. You load your SUV and drive
over to Itasca State Park to meet your colleagues and investigate the situation.

The sheriff's officers and the hiker lead you to the scene. By the time you arrive, there is only half an hour of daylight remaining. In the somewhat secluded
glade of trees, you see scattered bones. While the sheriff's officers hurriedly photograph the scene, you map the bone scatter and determine that the
bones are human. One of your team members compiles a preliminary inventory as you collect each bone.

The next morning, your team returns to work in the laboratory, where you get a call from the sheriff. The family of the three missing boys is pressuring him
for information. Your team begins the final osteological exam. After careful examination, you produce your final inventory. You are working with the same
number of bones, but you now have determined which side of the body they came from (when applicable). You have:

3 skulls 2 tibiae (left) 4 hip bones (called os coxae) (1 right and 3 left)

6 femora (4 right and 2 left) 2 humeri (right) 5 scapulae (3 right and 2 left)
Questions: reminder all work should be in complete sentences.

1. How many bones are in the collection? (This number is called the NISP- Number of Identified Specimens.) [2 points]

● 22

2. Which of the bones in the collection belong to the axial skeleton? Which belong to the appendicular skeleton? (Hint: See
lesson pages 4-5.) [6 points]

● axial skeleton: skull appendicular: femur, tibia, humorous, and scapula, os coxae

3. What is the maximum number of individuals who could be represented by these bones? (Hint: Assume every bone in the
collection could be from a different person. This is similar in math when we look at a RANGE, our goal is to find the
MAXIMUM range of victims) [5 points]

● 22
skull
skull skull
left scapula right
right scapula scapula

ula right humerus


right humerus
right scapula
hip bone (os
coxa)
left hip bone (os
coxa)

right hip bone (os left hip bone (os coxa)


coxa)

right femur left femur right femur


mur

right
femur
left tibia
right femur
bia
Questions: reminder all work should be in complete sentences.

4b. How many partial skeletons were you able to make? (Hint: Even if it’s just a single bone, it was attached to a body!
Don’t forget to explain why your answer is correct.) [6 points]

● I was able to make four partial skeletons, even though the last partial skeleton was just a femur. Each skeleton had the
corresponding amount of bones place for the amount of bones given. the maximum number of bones which were the
same was the 4 right femurs meaning there would be four skeletons because you cant have 2 right femurs on one person

5. Why do you think the MNI is important when working in a scenario like this? (Remember the MNI is the Minimum Number of
Individuals) [5 points]

● It is important to because in this scenario there was 3 individuals we were looking for meaning we need to be able to put
together the pieces of which bone goes where and really study it to be able to match the facts and finally conclude if we
have the bones of the people we are looking for

6. What do you tell the sheriff? Do you think these bones belong to the missing boys? [2 points]

● I do not think that the bones belong to the missing boys due to the fact that there was an extra femur indicating there was
a fourth person in that group, the brothers were only a group of three so it would be quite unlikely to find another
unrelated bone near the skeletons of 3 brothers, most likely the bones found were a different group of 4 people.

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