The bones have since been lost, but doctors files containing measurements of the bones, rediscovered in 1998, have now be re-examined by forensics, who said in a statement that the bones were “consistent with a female of Earhart's height and ethnic origin.”

Interestingly, the bones were notable because the length of the forearm was longer than average. They then compared the measurements to a photograph of Earhart. They have concluded the ratios are “virtually identical.”

“The match does not, of course, prove that the castaway was Amelia Earhart but it is a significant new data point that tips the scales further in that direction,” said researchers.

Additionally, in August this year, the researchers found that Earhart had made 100 radio transmissions for help between 2 July and 6 July 1937, which suggests her plane didn’t crash – as the radio would not have worked without the engine running.

Speaking to CNN, TIGHAR executive director, Ric Gillespie said:

“Until we started investigating the skeleton, we found what history knew was that Amelia Earhart died in July 2nd, 1937, in a plane crash.

“But there is an entire final chapter of Earhart's life that people don't know about. She spent days — maybe months — heroically struggling to survive as a castaway.”

Startling new evidence suggests Amelia Earhart may not have died in a plane crash