Researcher: New forensic analysis indicates bones were Amelia Earhart's

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Phys.org

Researcher: New forensic analysis indicates bones were Amelia Earhart's

March 7, 2018, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Bone measurement analysis indicates that the remains found on a remote island in the South Pacific were likely those of legendary American pilot Amelia Earhart, according to a UT researcher.

Richard Jantz, professor emeritus of anthropology and director emeritus of UT's Forensic Anthropology Center, re-examined seven bone measurements conducted in 1940 by physician D. W. Hoodless. Hoodless had concluded that the bones belonged to a man.

Jantz, using several modern quantitative techniques—including Fordisc, a computer program for estimating sex, ancestry, and stature from skeletal measurements—found that Hoodless had incorrectly determined the sex of the remains. The program, co-created by Jantz, is used by nearly every board-certified forensic anthropologist in the US and around the world.

The data revealed that the bones have more similarity to Earhart than to 99 percent of individuals in a large reference sample. ... The new study is published in the journal Forensic Anthropology.

Read more: https://phys.org/news/2018-03-forensic-analysis-bones-amelia-earhart.html

[zipplewrath]

1. Not exactly

Based on this information, Jantz concludes that "until definitive evidence is presented that the remains are not those of Amelia Earhart, the most convincing argument is that they are hers."

The bones conclude they were female. Other objects found seem to suggest that the only females likely on that island were her. It's still based more upon inference by a lack of evidence than anything else.

[Nitram]

2. I don't know, zip, the article says there was more determined than just the sex of the individual.

"The data revealed that the bones have more similarity to Earhart than to 99 percent of individuals in a large reference sample."

[zipplewrath]

3. yeah, wasn't sure what that sample was

It seems to suggest, from other comments in the article, that this is based upon things like height and size in general. Just not sure who the "reference sample" was. Yes, Earhart wasn't "typical" for her day. But she wasn't exactly "one in a hundred" either.

[Nitram]

4. It sounds like a comprehensive set of standardized reference samples.

A "large set" of reference samples.

[lagomorph777]

5. Everybody is "one in a hundred" if you look in detail.

Not just "exceptionally short" or "giant head", but subtleties such as ratio of forearm to lower arm, paired with height, weight, etc.

I think that's what Jantz means.

[bitterross]

6. The phrase that caught my eye

The program, co-created by Jantz, is used by nearly every board-certified forensic anthropologist in the US and around the world.

Nothing like a sensational finding to promote one's own software is there? Yes, I'm a total cynic. I also know there are other clues, such as photos of a woman who was likely/possibly Earhart, in Japanese photos from the time that have been found recently. These point to her surviving a crash and not dying on the island.

I'm not saying he's wrong, but I'm not saying this really ends all speculation.

[Lokilooney]

7. Nikumaroro Island only gets a 3.3 in Google reviews

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nikumaroro+Island

[keithbvadu2]

8. Can the bones be checked for DNA? Never mind.... bones lost.

Never mind.... bones lost.

[Hulk]

9. DNA cant be matched..

Guess I’m missing something. In this day and age of DNA being used to match individuals to a crime or connection seems a rather simple test to use? Male or female bones seems a bit inconclusive.

[Sneederbunk]

10. OK, onward to Judge Crater.

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Ages old mystery maybe solved.

Does that mean we can move onto finding out what happened to the missing Judge Crater?