From Bones to Bias: Exploring Demographic Gaps in the West Virginia University Osteological Collection

Osteological collections are essential to forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology but often refl ect historical biases. Analysis of 26 individuals from West Virginia University’s osteological collection revealed disproportionate representation: 46.2% Asian/Native American, 34.6% African American, and 19.2% European American, with a skew toward middle-aged adults. Sex estimations varied, with 26.9% indeterminate. These imbalances stem from unethical collection practices, such as grave robbing and using unclaimed bodies. Addressing these issues requires transparency, provenance research, and ethical sourcing. This study underscores the need for equitable representation, ethical stewardship, and revised methods to mitigate bias in osteological teaching and research.