University Daily Kansan
Page 9
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1964
Anthropologist Traces People By Using Only Bone Remains
Because of his knowledge of human bones, William Bass, professor of anthropology, usually identifies about one human being a day from remains sent to him.
Most of his work is for archaeologists who want to know the age and race of the human being they have unearthed.
Last week the Kansas Bureau of Investigation gave Prof. Bass the remains of a man who had been burned to death in a railroad car for identification.
However, Prof. Bass is occasionally asked to identify remains for police information.
"THIS CAN get pretty grisly," he said.
The physical features of the man had been burned away. Through the bone structure and the victim's teeth, Prof. Bass was able to identify the man as a hobo from Marion county.
By using different characteristics of races and sexes, Dr. Bass can
make identifications even from a few scattered fragments of a skeleton.
"TEETH ARE the most valuable remains for positive identification. Dental charts can prove conclusively a person's identity when all other features are missing." Dr. Bass said.
A skull, leg bones and other bone fragments were found by a farmer in Republic County. From the few bones that he received, Prof. Bass found there was a woman of 35-60 years, a child of less than one year, a cow, and a bird in the mixed remains and they all died several hundred years ago.
In Indians and other people who eat a lot of dirt in their diet, analyzing the teeth is the easiest way to determine age. The tooth enamel is usually worn away by the time an Indian is 35.
Since Prof. Bass is the only physical anthropologist who makes identifications in the area, he receives
Many of his reports are used as court evidence. He has made several positive identifications for police agencies.
Most of the specimens received by Dr. Bass are put in the anthropology department collection for student use. There are skeletal pieces from 1500 human beings in the department collection.
boxes of skeletons and fragments from as far away as South Dakota.
Prof. Bass said he recommends skeletal identification for anyone, it's a wide-open field. He should know. His nearest "competitor" lives in St. Louis.
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