Forensic anthropology
| Author(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Valstybinė teismo medicinos tarnyba | Vilniaus universitetas |
| Date Issued |
|---|
2007 |
This review summarizes current status of forensic anthropology as an application of the science of biological anthropology to legal processes. Although it routinely deals with skeletonized or otherwise unidentified human remains, it is not seldom involved in identification of living persons. Forensic anthropology emerged as a subdiscipline of skeletal research in 19th century, and has a broad spectrum for determination of group identification traits (biological sex, age, stature and ancestry), that narrows the range of search, and identification of deceased and living individual. Forensic anthropologists usually are working in close collaboration with specialists of various medical fields (pathologists, odontologists), as well as archaeologists, criminologists and legal authorities. Forensic anthropological expertise is highly requested in investigation of mass disasters, cases of mass murders and similar crimes against humanity. Forensic anthropology is now an integral part of all the forensic science laboratories of the world and other law enforcement agencies.