Forensic Anthropology/Scene Excavation Activity

by Denise Spencer

Name______

Scene No. ______

Scenario:

Mr. T.J. smith was walking his dog in a local park. Suddenly, his dog stopped and started to dig a hole. To Mr. Smith’s surprise his dog uncovered a bone. Mr. Smith took the bone to the nearest park ranger and the ranger contacted the authorities. The bone was then sent to Dr. Mandible, an anthropologist for examination. Dr. Mandible concluded that the bone was human.

Your task is to excavate and process the secure scene for human remains. You must communicate closely with your team and document your findings.

Materials:

Secure scene (24” x 10” wooden box, 5 inch disarticulated skeleton, soil)

Spoon for digging

Numbered place markers

Sifter

Small Baggies

String

Tape

Scissors

Graph paper

Paper towels

Ruler

Large bowl

Procedure:

  1. Decide who will dig, who will sift the soil, who will place the numbered markers, and who will package all evidence found.
  2. Each bone or piece of evidence must be placed in a separate baggie and labeled with the marker number and a description of where it was found.
  3. Based on the search patterns below, choose which pattern your group will use for your search of the scene. Draw and label your search pattern on the graph paper provided.

(James, S. & Nordby, J. (2005) Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques, Second Edition. CRC Press: Boca Raton, Florida.)

  1. Dig in one section at a time according to your search pattern.
  2. Place 2-3 spoonfuls of soil in the sifter. Slowly and carefully sift the soil over a paper plate until all of the soil has sifted through to the plate. If bones or other evidence is found, place a numbered marker (starting with the no. 1) in the spot where the soil came from after returning the sifted soil.
  3. Place the evidence in a baggie and label the baggie with the marker no. and description of where it was found.
  4. Record all information in the given data table.
  5. Continued steps 4-7 until you have completed your search pattern.
  6. Place all bones in a paper towel and reassemble the skeletal remains.
  7. Based on your study of forensic anthropology, completely answer the analysis questions.
  8. Turn in completed paperwork to be graded.

Data Table

Marker No. / Type of evidence / Description of evidence / Was the evidence intact or fragmented?

Analysis:

  1. Explain why your group chose your search pattern. Would a different search pattern have worked better? Why or why not?

______

  1. Examine the skeletal remains and determine:
  2. gender ______
  3. height ______
  4. race ______
  5. age ______
  1. After examining the remains, was this person’s death natural or unnatural? Describe the evidence that led to your conclusions.

______

  1. Reconstruct the scene and describe in detail your theory (hypothesis) of what may have occurred that resulted in this person’s death. (You may draw a picture and describe your theory or you may just write a paragraph or two.)

______

1

Spencer - Anthropology Activity