Forensic Anthropology

Forensic anthropology is a subspecialty within the scientific field of physical anthro­pology (the study of human beings in relation to their physical character), in which forensic anthropologists examine skeletal remains (bones). Forensic anthropology used in the context of human rights cases has come to the forefront in the past two decades as an essential part of peace support operations (PSOs), international and national tribunals and of special com­missions of inquiry and other types of investigations following large-scale human rights abuses. Framed within the fundamental right to truth and justice of victims of human rights violations, their families and societies at large to know what happened to their loved ones, the missing and the disappeared, this application continues to develop. Forensic anthropology has now been used in the investigation of human rights violations in more than 50 countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe, often following requests from local and inter­national human rights organizations, local judiciaries, government and/or UN-sponsored truth commissions, the offices of special prosecutors and international tribunals, among others.

Forensic science deals with the recovery and analysis of physical evidence and refers to biological and non-biological evidence. Biological evidence includes skeletal remains, body parts, bloodstains, other bodily fluids, fingerprints and so forth. Non-biological evidence related to a crime includes items associated with remains or relevant to the case, such as bullets, personal belongings, weapons and other objects that can potentially provide information in a crim­inal investigation. Forensic anthropology can be defined as the application of knowledge and techniques from physical or biological anthropology and forensic medicine to the study of skeletal or almost skeletonized remains within the context of a legal investigation, when remains and associated evidence arc retrieved, criminalistic and archaeological techniques arc also used. Anthropologists working in forensics often also work on the recovery, preser­vation and analysis of the crime scene as well as site-finding efforts.

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• What is Forensic anthropology?
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