Estimate Height from Bones: Forensic Analysis Guide

By: Erin Collier 10/01/23 Investigation: Can You Estimate a Person’s Height from the Length of their Bones? At a nearby construction zone, workers have made a startling discovery. They uncovered several bones that look like they were buried some time ago. You are part of a team of forensic anthropologists who have been called in to analyze these bones. Unfortunately, the bones were heavily damaged by the construction equipment. The bones have all been mixed up, and several have been crushed. However, you think you can use the bones that are left to determine the number of bodies and the height of each individual. When a body is discovered, it is important to learn as much as possible from the remains. Forensic anthropologists use mathematical formulas to estimate someone’s height from the lengths of certain bones in their body. 1. Using a ruler or tape measure, measure the length of your femur in centimeters. This is the large bone that runs from your hip socket to your knee cap. The bone that sticks out near your hip is part of the femur and is called the greater trochanter. Record this information in the table below for you. Gather data from at least three other people.

*Use the femur length and the chart to calculate your height and compare that to your actual height. If your race isn't listed, you can find more formulas online. 2. Next, measure the length of your tibia. Start at the tibial tuberosity (bump on your shin) to the medial malleolus, the bump on your ankle. Use the chart to calculate your height based on the tibia. 3. Finally, measure your ulna length by bending your arm and measuring from the proximal end of the ulna (elbow bump) to the distal end, the styloid process of the ulna. The styloid process is visible as a bump near your wrist. Use the chart to calculate your height based on the ulna. 4. Complete the table for at least 3 other people that you know. Name: Erin Gage Clay I do not have anymore people in my household/family Actual Height (cm) 170.18 134.62 180.34 Femur Length (cm) 48.26 30.48 35.56 Calculated Height (cm) 177.02 140.18 151.97 Tibia Length (cm) 38.1 33.02 40.64 Calculated Height (cm) 175.68 165.84 184.28 Ulna Length (cm) 24.13 20.32 26.67 Calculated Height (cm) 165.10 156.67 180.55

Construction Site The following bones were recovered from the construction site. A fellow forensic anthropologist has already classified the bones by sex and race. Using the mathematical formulas, calculate the approximate height of each individual. Bone # Bone Type Length (cm) Race Sex Calculated Height (cm) 1 Humerus 38.2 Caucasian Male 193.07 2 Femur 44.0 African-American Female 163.49 3 Ulna 25.4 Caucasian Male 175.77 4 Femur 52.4 Caucasian Male 191.04 5 Femur 43.9 African-American Female 163.26 6 Tibia 45.7 Caucasian Male 196.52

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Discussion Questions: 1. Is it possible that any of the bones came from the same person? Which bones do you think might be the same person and provide an explanation for WHY you think so. Yes, I think it is possible that some of the bones could be from the same person. The Caucasian male bones all have similar calculated height profiles, the only one that is slightly off is the Caucasian male ulna calculated height. The African-American Female bones found I believe would definitely be from the same person as there calculated height on all the bones is almost exact. 2. What is the minimum number of bodies buried at this site? What is the maximum number of bodies buried at this site? Explain your reasoning. The minimum number of bodies buried is 2 and the maximum number of bodies buried would be 6. I based my answer off the fact there are 2 races on the above chart, 1 Male and 1 Female for gender, the type of bones, and the calculated heights to make this guess. I based the maximum based off of how many bones were found, how many races, what gender and what kind of bones. 3. Consider a case where two females have the same femur length. Would you expect those females to be the exact same height? Why or why not? No, I would not assume they are the same height because there is more than just a femur involved with your height.

4. On the formula table, there is a symbol shown as ± . What does this symbol mean? It means Plus (+) or Minus (–) said number. 5. Consider your calculated heights and your actual height. Are they within the range that was expected. Suggest a reason for why a person's calculated height might not be accurate. The calculated heights came close to my actual height, but they were not exact. I don’t think this system is completely reliable to know a person’s height. It depends on many factors but also which bones you are basing their calculated height off of, age, race, gender. The femur and tibia were closer to actual height than the other for myself but all of the bones for my son were significantly off. For my Fiancé the ulna and tibia had a close calculated height, but the femur did not. Formulas for Calculating Height Race Male Equation Female Equation Femur Caucasian 2.32 x femur + 65.53 ± 3.94 cm 2.47 x femur + 54.10 ± 3.72 cm

African-American 2.10 x femur + 72.22 ± 3.91 2.28 x femur + 59.76 ± 3.41 Asian 2.15 x femur + 72.57 ± 3.80 cm 2.15 x femur + 72.57 ± 3.80 cm Tibia Caucasian 2.42 x tibia + 81.93 ± 4.00 cm 2.90 x tibia + 61.53 ± 3.66 cm African-American 2.19 x tibia + 85.36 ± 3.96 cm 2.45 x tibia + 72.56 ± 3.70 cm Asian 2.39 x tibia + 81.45 ± 3.24 cm 2.39 x tibia + 81.45 ± 3.24 cm Ulna Caucasian 3.76 x ulna + 75.55 ± 4.72 cm 4.27 x ulna + 57.76 ± 4.30 cm African-American 3.20 x ulna + 82.77 ± 4.74 cm 3.31 x ulna + 75.38 ± 4.83 cm Asian 3.48 x ulna + 77.45 ± 4.66 cm 3.48 x ulna + 77.45 ± 4.66 cm Humerus Caucasian 2.89 x humerus + 78.10 ± 4.57 cm 3.36 x humerus + 57.97 ± 4.45 cm African-American 2.88 x humerus + 75.48 ± 4.23 cm 3.08 x humerus + 64.67 ± 4.25 cm

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Asian 2.68 x humerus + 83.19 ± 4.16 cm 2.68 x humerus + 83.19 ± 4.16 cm

Estimate Height off of Bones Assignment by Erin Collier

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