This is interesting, it tells a little the differences in fractures, (before death, near death and after death)
http://anthropology.si.edu/writteninbone/comic/activity/pdf/evidence_of_trauma.pdf
A few articles I read, stated that when skeletal remains are found, due to the lack of tissue and other stuff its harder to determine if possibly the person bleed to death, heart attack other things. Just so sad he wasn't found sooner. But I am thankful for the family being able to give him a proper burial. I bet there were a lot of people who were taken aback tho when they heard the news of discovery of remains and ID. Even if there wasn't anything illegal connected to his demise....
Another informative article:
snip>
What happened?
Forensic anthropologists are also trained to examine evidence regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual. This involves analyzing skeletal trauma and differentiating between injuries caused by bullets, sharp objects, blunt objects, or other instruments.
Sharp force trauma results when a narrow or pointed object hits a very small area. The stabs, slashes, and cuts typical of sharp force often penetrate deep enough to leave cut marks on the bone. In contrast, blunt force trauma results from a larger implement hitting a much broader area.
Blunt force trauma can cause fractures of the arm and leg bones or crush and shatter the flat bones of the skull.
Projectile trauma involves a high force applied over a very small area. Projectile trauma can involve bullets, arrows, spears, or any other small object delivered at high velocity. The damage caused by projectile trauma can often be used to indicate the direction of travel of the projectile.
Other forms of traumathat an anthropologist may find evidence of include strangulation, electrocution, chemical or heat related trauma, or explosions.
In addition to the injuries themselves, the patterns of injuries present on a body can be very important to the case. Multiple, severe blunt injuries over the whole body may suggest a fall from a great height or a car accident. Sharp force injuries to the hands and lower arms are indicative of defence wounds. The direction of projectile wounds can also be used to support or refute a suspect's story. It is the anthropologist's task to carefully record all traumata according to type, location, and number to reconstruct the overall picture of what happened to a person at the time of their death. And although they are not legally responsible for determining cause of death, the information anthropologists collect can help the coroner or medical examiner make their official judgement on the case.
More interesting reading from this article
http://www.sfu.museum/forensics/eng/pg_media-media_pg/anthropologie-anthropology/
Another interesting link:
http://www.sfu.museum/forensics/eng/pg_media-media_pg/anthropologie-anthropology/
