ABSTRACT
The determination of ancestry (race) from human remains, as mentioned briefly in the preceding chapter, is a very important step in the identification process. Whether the decedent is a Native American, a white, or a black is important information to know in order to begin the process of screening missing persons’ records. Just as determination of age, sex, and living stature can help narrow the number of records, so does knowledge of the major human population to which the decedent belongs. In fact, traditionally the four “pillars” of the skeletal identification process have always been the determination of sex, race, age, and stature.
