Forensic Anthropology: Current Tools, Future Concepts

Abstract

Traditionally, methodology within forensic anthropology has involved very basic techniques of measurement, observation and interpretation. Rooted in the academic fields of anatomy and physical anthropology, forensic anthropology has grown to address problems of recovery, determination of species, estimation of age at death, sex, ancestry, stature, postmortem interval, and the evaluation of evidence relating to foul play and identification. Growth and expansion of the field into new areas of application have revealed new problems needing new methodological solutions. Striving to resolve these problems, anthropologists have turned to new technology, or approaches utilized in related academic areas that would be new to anthropology. This chapter explores aspects of those technological developments and how they have found a home in the practice of forensic anthropology.