When skeletal remains (e.g. a bundle of bones found near a railway track) are submitted, the expert proceeds through a fixed sequence of questions.
Objectives
To determine: (1) whether the bones are human or animal, (2) whether they belong to one or multiple persons, (3) sex, (4) age, (5) stature, (6) race where possible, (7) time since death, (8) presence and nature of injuries, (9) possible cause and manner of death, (10) identity of the deceased.
1. Preliminary examination
At the scene: record exact location, photograph bones in situ, note relationship with the railway track. Search for: clothing, footwear, personal belongings, hair, teeth, blood stains, soft-tissue remnants.