Forensics students make their bones in Central Pk.

TWICE A YEAR, Angelique Corthals digs a shallow grave in Central Park — and buries a skeleton with a skull that took a bad blow to the head.

The macabre spectacle unfolds at a composting site along a stretch of the park’s East Drive. It’s a popular spot for runners, bicyclists and dog walkers — but no one bats an eye as Corthals shovels dirt onto the body.

“The only people who seem to care are the tourists,” said Corthals, a Belgian-born forensic anthropologist who teaches at John Jay College.

“New Yorkers who live here say, ‘You know what? I’d rather not look into that. I’ll read what happened in the newspapers.”

Her latest interment took place on Sunday as part of a real-world exercise for her students — the next generation of crime scene investigators.

“I want them to see what it’s like to get in the field,” she said as she watched her students — dressed in white Tyvek body suits, goggles and masks — fan out to secure the area and determine what happened.

Normally, it’s against the law to bury something — particularly a dead person — in a city park.

However, since 2014 the Parks Department has issued Corthals a research permit to let her conduct the exercise each semester.

On Sunday, Corthals buried the bones before the students arrived — and hid a few other items like binoculars and a hammer (which explains the bashed-in skull).

She left the skeleton’s tibia sticking out of the soil for a vigilant scholar to spot. Jennifer Rosati — her partner in crime, so to speak — also placed maggots and pupa on the bones for an added touch. Insects inhabiting decomposing bodies can greatly aid investigations. “I’m sure if they do find them, you’ll hear a little squeal,” said Rosati, a forensic entomologist at John Jay College. Corthals told the 11 students the scenario before they began searching for the bones and clues: A dog walking with his owner discovered a human femur. The owner contacted police, who believe the bone may be tied to a birder who vanished in Central Park 15 years ago while watching yellow warblers. The class is full of students who count “Dexter,” the Showtime series about a serialkilling blood spatter analyst, as an inspiration.

“I’ve always been a morbid child,” said Jessica Vincenty, 29, a John Jay student pursuing a master’s in forensic science. “In fifth grade, I told a guidance counselor I wanted to be a coroner.”

Now Vincenty would like to join the FBI. She was tasked on Sunday with photographing the crime scene as her classmates planted flags near clues and mapped the area with measuring tapes. Others used brushes to delicately remove dirt to uncover the bones.

Corthals watched as the students slowly discovered the remains of the dead birder. She reminded them to keep tabs on everything — or else.

“I will personally kill you if you lose one of my tools,” she said. “And I know how to disappear bodies!”