Introduction to Forensic
Anthropology
Forensic Anthropology is a subsection of biological anthropology.
It refers to the analysis of human remains for medicolegal
(medical and legal) purposes. This includes establishing identity,
investigating suspicious deaths, and identifying victims of mass
disasters.
Forensic anthropologist vs pathologist
Concentration Primary Legal Authority
Concerns
Forensic - Skeletal To find the - Analyse
Anthropologist: remains. identity of the skeletal remains
Osteology - Hard tissue. victim - Present
Taphonomy - Any remains opinion (expert
Archaeology that are witness
Anatomy highly statements)
Crime scene analysis decomposed
and/or
altered.
Forensic - Fleshed Cause and - To perform
Pathologist: Bodies manner of death autopsies
Forensic medicine - Soft Tissue of the victim - State cause
Autopsy and manner of
Examination of death
tissues and organs - Issue death
Toxicology tests certificate
M.D required
These careers overlap since decomposition is a continuous
process:
Pathologists are helpful when mummified tissues exist
Anthropologists are helpful when decomposition is more
advanced
Both work to determine time since death, look for any evidence on
the deceased, and collect the evidence
Workflow
Item identification (human vs non-human)
Inventory and minimum number of individuals estimation
Biological profile
o Estimation of Ancestry, sex, age at death and stature
Pathological profile
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller milliegrace. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.