| This book is written for medical examiners, coroners, and other law enforcement officers who are responsible for conducting death investigations. Forensic analysis has become and will continue to be a complex and highly specialized field of study. No longer can the lone investigator take on the responsibilities of doing all the work of recovery, examination, and interpretation of a human remains resulting from unexplained circumstances. Today, a forensic investigation requires a team of specialists from many different scientific fields of study as well as legal and law enforcement specialists.
Of the many specialties that sometimes are used in forensic investigation, forensic anthropology is most often associated with the analysis of skeletonized human remains. Although this characterization is correct, it also is true that in recent years the range of cases on which forensic anthropologists consult has expanded dramatically. Unfortunately, forensic anthropology has become a popular topic for novels, TV programs, and even movies. While publicity sometimes can be helpful, the wrong kind of publicity can raise expectations beyond what the real specialist is able to deliver. Moreover, frequent publicity in the media about forensic anthropologists makes it appear that these specialists are more numerous than they really are. |