Dem Bones: Forensic Reconstruction of a Skeleton - Activity 4 Handout - Case Study Collection - National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science

ACTIVITY 4: HEIGHT ESTIMATION

Anthropologists estimate the height of individuals by measuring specific bones. Measure the length of the femur and, using the height estimation data given below (Bass 1987), provide a range of estimated height:

Height Estimation Using the Femur

Male (2.32 x length of the femur in cm.) +65.53 ± 3.94

Female (2.47 x length of the femur in cm.) + 54.10 ± 3.72

Height Estimation Using the Femur
Male	(2.32 x length of the femur in cm.) +65.53 ± 3.94
Female	(2.47 x length of the femur in cm.) + 54.10 ± 3.72

Length of femur: ______________ cm

Range of estimated height: ____________