Final answer:
To determine the age of a child skeleton under the age of 5, various methods can be used: epiphyseal fusion, dental development, and skeletal age markers.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the age of a child skeleton under the age of 5, various methods can be used:
- Epiphyseal fusion: The fusion of growth plates in long bones can be used to estimate age. As the child grows, these growth plates fuse together over time.
- Dental development: Examining the eruption and development of deciduous (baby) teeth can provide insights into the child's age.
- Skeletal age markers: Certain skeletal features, such as the pubic symphysis, iliac auricular surface, and cranial suture closure, can be analyzed to estimate age.
By examining these indicators, forensic anthropologists and archaeologists can make reasonable approximations of a child's age.