The paper presents an experimental test of macrocrack propagation in bones associated with a numerical strategy to determine from this test some mechanical properties by inverse identification. A 3 point bending test is performed on a notched segment of long human bone, and the load vs notch opening displacement is measured. The compliance method is applied in the context of a realistic FE simulation of the test. A first application of this methodology is described and shows its feasibility and capabilities. The ultimate objective of this research project is to develop a probabilistic modelling of the macrocracking processes in human long bone tissues based on an experimental database of mechanical parameters fed up by this methodology.