Aim of the present study was to examine the combined contribution of anthropology and diatomology for establishing the identity and cause of death through bones, recovered from dry pond in a farm. Detail analysis of the bone was performed to establish identity and cause of death. In addition to routine examination of bone marrow of humerus, pelvis, clavicle, sacrum, mandible, femur and tibia using anthropological methods, diatomological and toxicological examinations were also performed to estimate sex, age and stature and cause of death. In this case, nitric acid extracts of the intact femur and clavicle bone marrow were prepared and examined for the presence of diatoms. Various kinds of diatom frustules were recovered from marrow extracts, indicating that the cause of death was drowning. Poison was not detected in these bones during toxicological examination. Bones were without any injury mark. The use of diatom test was helpful in proving death due to drowning and excluding the possibility of death due to some other reason. Probably it would be accidental drowning as on the basis of back ground rationale. The application of anthropological and diatomological examinations significantly enhance the medicolegal investigation of bones. Anthropological data facilitated identification of individual and the diatom test established cause of death.

Keywords: Anthropology; Bones; Diatomology; Drowning; Diatom test.