TED-ED: What can you learn from ancient skeletons? - Farnaz Khatibi

The video explores how biological anthropology helps us understand ancient lives through skeletal analysis. By examining bones, researchers can determine age, gender, diseases, and dietary habits. Isotopic analysis reveals migration patterns and cultural insights. Modern techniques, including DNA analysis, provide further understanding of historical diseases, aiding in current medical advancements.

What branch of science helps researchers understand the identities of ancient individuals through skeletal analysis?

• Forensic Science

• Archaeology

• Biological Anthropology

• Paleontology

Which bone stops growing at age 25, helping to estimate the age of a skeleton?

• Femur

• Clavicle

• Pelvis

• Cranium

What feature of the pelvis helps determine the gender of a skeleton?

• Size of the cranium

• Length of the femur

• Width of the pelvis

• Shape of the clavicle

What can stable isotopes in bone collagen reveal about ancient individuals?

• Their diet and location

• Their age at death

• Their social status

• Their cause of death

How can skeletons be used to map migration patterns?

• By measuring bone length

• By examining isotopic signatures

• By studying bone density

• By analyzing DNA sequences