Age Estimation of Unknown Skeleton 5
Location
CoLab, COM 300
Start Date
30-4-2026 1:15 PM
Document Type
Poster
Description
The researchers in this group were assigned Skeleton 5 and were closely acquainted during their experiment. The mission was to look over Skeleton 5 so that they could attempt to find how old the donor was when they expired. The researchers then used what methods were available to them with the state of the skeleton. The researchers primarily used the method that utilizes the cranium. We used the pubic symphysis method with the other skeleton’s pelvic region as we cannot disarticulate the skeleton provided. They then referenced the auricular surface method to try and confirm their findings on the first method. The auricular surface method will provide a more broad timeline, but that starting point is important to compare with the other method. The team believes that with these two methods, they could confirm an age with a more narrow window than only one method would allow. The findings were great when the researchers used the auricular surface and pubic symphysis method. The female pelvis the researchers were given was between 21-53 when they expired as shown by the wearing of the auricular surface and the calcification of the pubic symphysis. This matters because we can use this age estimation to get a more clear understanding of who Skeleton 5 was. The researchers could not utilize all tools but were able to estimate the age of the skeleton was older than 30 years old. It is important to emphasize how difficult to estimate age is with just the cranial method, and we were only left with that option with this skeleton.
Image
Age Estimation of Unknown Skeleton 5
CoLab, COM 300
The researchers in this group were assigned Skeleton 5 and were closely acquainted during their experiment. The mission was to look over Skeleton 5 so that they could attempt to find how old the donor was when they expired. The researchers then used what methods were available to them with the state of the skeleton. The researchers primarily used the method that utilizes the cranium. We used the pubic symphysis method with the other skeleton’s pelvic region as we cannot disarticulate the skeleton provided. They then referenced the auricular surface method to try and confirm their findings on the first method. The auricular surface method will provide a more broad timeline, but that starting point is important to compare with the other method. The team believes that with these two methods, they could confirm an age with a more narrow window than only one method would allow. The findings were great when the researchers used the auricular surface and pubic symphysis method. The female pelvis the researchers were given was between 21-53 when they expired as shown by the wearing of the auricular surface and the calcification of the pubic symphysis. This matters because we can use this age estimation to get a more clear understanding of who Skeleton 5 was. The researchers could not utilize all tools but were able to estimate the age of the skeleton was older than 30 years old. It is important to emphasize how difficult to estimate age is with just the cranial method, and we were only left with that option with this skeleton.
Comments
The faculty mentor for this project was Gideon Ney.