This document summarizes the analysis of a set of human skeletal remains to estimate age, sex, ancestry, and stature. Methods included qualitative scoring systems and quantitative analysis. Sex was estimated as female based on cranial and pelvic features. Age was estimated to be over 50 years old based on cranial suture closure, pubic symphysis, and auricular surface features. Ancestry was estimated to be Negroid based on several cranial features. Stature was estimated to be 5'7"-5'8" based on measurements of long limb bones.

1. Estimating age, sex, ancestry, and
stature of human skeletal remains

2. Introduction
• Purpose:
– Estimate:
• Age
• Sex
• Ancestry
• Stature

3. • Scope
– 1 (mostly)
complete set of
human skeletal
remains

4. Methods and materials
• Qualitative:
– scoring systems/guides
– comparative analysis
• Quantitative

5. Sex Estimation
Cranial Feature Score
Overall Skull Size 5
Robusticity of Skull 5
Mastoid Size 5
Chin shape 4
Gonial Angle 5
Results and discussion:

6. Gonial angle

8. African-American Female

9. Pelvic Feature Score/Form
Sub-pubic Arch 4 - “V” shaped, narrow
Pubic Symphysis 4 – Longer, narrower
Greater Sciatic Notch 4 – Deep, Narrow
Preauricular Sulcus 5 – No preauricular sulcus
Sex Estimation

10. Results and discussion:
• Age:
– Cranial and Maxillary Sutures
– Pubic symphysis surface
– Auricular surface
– Epiphyseal Closures

11. Cranial Suture Stage Mean Age (Meindl and
Lovejoy 1985)
Midlambdoidal 3
Lambda 3
Obelion 3
Anterior sagittal 3
Bregma 3
Midcoronal 3
Pterion 2
Vault Suture Composite
Score
20 51.5 years
Sphenofrontal 2
Inferior sphenotemporal 3
Superior
sphenotemporal
2
Lateral Anterior
Composite Score
12 56.2 years

12. Maxillary Suture Score
Incisive 3
Transverse palatine - presence of obliteration
Posterior median palatine 3
Anterior median palatine 3
Greater palatine foramen 3
•Narrow, bony ridge, bumps at the anterior portion of
the AMP
•Palate thin and smooth (indicative of an age older
than 60)
•Obliteration of 3 or 4 maxillary sutures
Probably older than 50 years of age

13. • Pubic symphysis:
– Lipping
– Plateau
– Fully formed
extremeties
– Rim around face
– Erosion and
erratic ossification
Age is likely 50+
•Auricular surface:
•Rugged with
ossifications
•Large porosity
•Erosion and erratic
ossification
•Apical cavity marked
•Retroauricular surface
marked, osteophytes
Age is likely 60+

14. Results and discussion:
Ancestry
Feature Form Race Group(s)
Post-bregmatic depression Present Negroid
Coronal suture pattern Simple Negroid
Metopic trace Absent Negroid/Mongoloid
Orbital shape Square Negroid
Nasal root Wide, rounded Negroid
Lower nasal margin Sharp sill Caucasoid
Straight palatine suture No Negroid/Caucasoid
Visibility of oval window Yes Negroid/Caucasoid
Shape of ascending ramus Slanted Negroid

15. Results and discussion:
• Stature estimation
– Long limb bones (max. length)
• Humerus
• Radius
• Ulna
• Femur
• Tibia
• Fibula
– Chart of Trotter and Gleser’s
All of the long bones measured were indicative of a height
approximately 67” or 68.”

16. Conclusion
• Age estimate: Older adult, older than 50 years
of age, possibly over 60.
• Sex estimate: Male
• Ancestry estimate: Negroid or possibly
Negroid and Caucasoid
• Stature estimate: 5’7”- 5’8”