ABSTRACT
The essential questions facing forensic anthropologists have not changed remarkably over the last few decades. When presented with remains, practitioners must determine whether they are human and if they are of archaeological or forensic significance. A biological profile must be generated including age at death, sex, ancestry, living stature, indications of interpersonal violence or trauma, illness, injury, or other unique characteristics, as well as determination of any taphonomic factors that have acted on the remains since the death of the individual, in order to aid in identification and explain the circumstances surrounding the death and postmortem interval (PMI). Although these basic duties have changed very little, the science underpinning the way forensic anthropologists embark upon them has changed immensely.
