Australia's Science Forum

Our anatomical skeleton has worn out. The wires are snapping and plastic starting to break apart. So we have ordered a replacement.

The question is, what to do with the old skeleton so it doesn't become a CSI case down the road?

I donated our old one to the art department - they loved it!!

I did the same.
They appreciated his slightly unique form!

Our old one is going to the local TAFE as they do forensics

We actually had a skeleton in pieces the wooden box it was marked prepared in India, you only had to look at the teeth to know it was real, "freaky" we hadn't had it out of the cupboard for years because we were worried about parents complaining. How we originally obtained it who knows. When we were renovating in 2006 we looked at getting it disposed of properly through the local funeral directors, which were going to charge us a fortune.

It was suggested that I bury it in a certain spot, thankfully I had more brains at the time and said no, the spot was dug up last year for further renovations. we ended up taxi trucking it to a university for teaching purposes without telling the taxi truck company what they were carrying.

I believe it was quite common for skeletons to be obtained from India, especially in the days when plastics weren't as good as they are now. Smart thinking not to have just buried it! Police would have had a field day!

The Police took ours, as they were real bones. Guess they have more power for disposal. They never told us how they disposed of them. But at least they went.

I can imagine there are some people out there who would love it to put up as decoration

Excellent advise, all, and in particular thanks, Labbie.

Having the police dispose of it somewhere that they know about will avoid it being a surprise to them if it is accidentally unearthed there.

The logic is so obvious in hindsight.

I sometimes wonder what will happen if the very old house I used to own is ever demolished and the gardens all dug up. Every pet we had that died was buried in the garden with a special plant on top - there will be bones of dogs [very large and small], cats, rabbits, budgies, goldfish, carp guinea pigs ...
A friend once asked if I could bury her favourite horse there - I drew the line at that one!