Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
Forensic anthropology is the examination of human remains, such as the skeleton, bones, and teeth. “The critical distinction between a forensic anthropologist and a general anthropologist is the formers focus on human identification” (Nawrocki 1).
There is a difference between these because forensic anthropology mainly has to do with human identification, but along with that there are smaller fields that are also greatly involved with forensic anthropology which are forensic osteology which is the study of the human skeleton, forensic archeology which is the digging up and the collection of human remains and other evidence from the crime scene, and lastly forensic taphonomy which is the study of the decomposition state in which the body was when found.
Forensic anthropology can use these details to help identify unidentified human remains that have been left undiscovered. By studying the remains they are able to answer questions like, was the person male or female? How old was the person when they passed away? How tall where they? And was the person being studied in good or bad health?
Forensic Anthropologists help law enforcements to answer these questions and create a profile on the deceased person or persons. “The profile includes sex, age, ethnicity, height, length of time since death, and sometimes the evaluation of trauma seen on bones” (utk.edu 1).
By creating this profile the anthropologists are able to explain these details to police officers and detectives who do not know how to gather this information themselves. Forensic anthropologists deal strictly with human remains. “What they cannot do is collect evidence such as hair or fingerprints, run DNA tests, conduct autopsies, and analyze ballistics or blood splatters”, (utk.edu 1). They cannot do any of this because they do not have the proper training to analyze ballistics and weapons or perform autopsies.
What they do to help in cases is travel to the scene of the crime to help collect the human remains, clean the bones so they can be analyzed create the profile of the dead person, work with a forensic odontologist to match dental records, and testify in court if needed. The job they do also involves identifying bodies or body parts that have been deceased, damaged, or decayed. “Bones offer amazing clues to the trained eye.
"A trained forensic anthropologist, using techniques favored by archeologists, can identify gender, ethnicity, age, illness, pregnancies, and even possible careers." (pbs.org 1).
This is why many forensic anthropologists need so much training because they can figure out the basic things that the person that is dead used to do when he or she was still alive and they can figure out possible events that happened leading up to the death of the person.
Usually they work as part of a team that includes a forensic dentist, forensic pathologist, and homicidal investigator, this is important because everyone is specialized in their own category of investigation not just one person.
It does not take just one person to solve the identity of the diseased person it takes a group of people who are specialized in their field to solve the identity.
There is a difference between these because forensic anthropology mainly has to do with human identification, but along with that there are smaller fields that are also greatly involved with forensic anthropology which are forensic osteology which is the study of the human skeleton, forensic archeology which is the digging up and the collection of human remains and other evidence from the crime scene, and lastly forensic taphonomy which is the study of the decomposition state in which the body was when found.
Forensic anthropology can use these details to help identify unidentified human remains that have been left undiscovered. By studying the remains they are able to answer questions like, was the person male or female? How old was the person when they passed away? How tall where they? And was the person being studied in good or bad health?
Forensic Anthropologists help law enforcements to answer these questions and create a profile on the deceased person or persons. “The profile includes sex, age, ethnicity, height, length of time since death, and sometimes the evaluation of trauma seen on bones” (utk.edu 1).
By creating this profile the anthropologists are able to explain these details to police officers and detectives who do not know how to gather this information themselves. Forensic anthropologists deal strictly with human remains. “What they cannot do is collect evidence such as hair or fingerprints, run DNA tests, conduct autopsies, and analyze ballistics or blood splatters”, (utk.edu 1). They cannot do any of this because they do not have the proper training to analyze ballistics and weapons or perform autopsies.
What they do to help in cases is travel to the scene of the crime to help collect the human remains, clean the bones so they can be analyzed create the profile of the dead person, work with a forensic odontologist to match dental records, and testify in court if needed. The job they do also involves identifying bodies or body parts that have been deceased, damaged, or decayed. “Bones offer amazing clues to the trained eye.
"A trained forensic anthropologist, using techniques favored by archeologists, can identify gender, ethnicity, age, illness, pregnancies, and even possible careers." (pbs.org 1).
This is why many forensic anthropologists need so much training because they can figure out the basic things that the person that is dead used to do when he or she was still alive and they can figure out possible events that happened leading up to the death of the person.
Usually they work as part of a team that includes a forensic dentist, forensic pathologist, and homicidal investigator, this is important because everyone is specialized in their own category of investigation not just one person.
It does not take just one person to solve the identity of the diseased person it takes a group of people who are specialized in their field to solve the identity.