Determination of Biological Sex
From
Human Skeletal Remains
Learning Objectives:
- To identify the areas of the human skeleton most useful in the determination of biological sex
- To distinguish the variable expression of the nonmetric cranial and post-cranial traits in males and females
- To accurately collect the post-cranial measurements relevant to the determination of sex
- To determine the sex of your case and one other skeleton
- To accurately and thoroughly complete the Adult Sex Determination Data Form
- To defend your assignment of sex for each individual assessed
Assignment:
Working in pairs, or teams of three, determine the sex of your case and one of the other skeletons provided. Complete the Adult Sex Determination Data Form for each case analyzed. Fill out each form as completely as possible, noting where bones are missing or a measurement is not possible. Include any comments or additional observations (e.g., individual is extremely gracile) on the form. After completing the analysis, come to a conclusion regarding the sex of the individual (male, female, indeterminate) and write a paragraph summarizing your decision and the basis for your conclusion.
To Hand In:
Each group will hand in two completed Adult Sex Determination Data Forms. Each individual will hand in a paragraph summary of the final conclusion.