Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies

Forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology use the physical evidence preserved in human skeletal remains to answer questions about identity, health, and life history — both in legal investigations and in the deeper archaeological record. Researchers develop and refine methods for estimating a person's age at death, determining biological sex, and reading patterns of growth, disease, and trauma from bone and dental tissue, drawing on an understanding of how skeletal morphology varies across populations and through time. The accuracy of these methods has significant real-world consequences, from identifying victims of mass disasters or violence to reconstructing the demographic profiles of ancient communities. Active work in the field grapples with how well standard reference data apply across diverse ancestral backgrounds, and with integrating traditional osteological analysis alongside emerging molecular and imaging techniques.

Works

90,061

Total citations

741,115

Keywords

Age EstimationSex DeterminationSkeletal DevelopmentForensic PracticeCranial MorphologyDental Age Estimation