What field involves examining human skeletal remains to identify unknown bones?

Forensic Anthropology is the field that specifically focuses on the examination and analysis of human skeletal remains. This discipline applies the principles of physical anthropology and human osteology in a legal context, allowing forensic anthropologists to assist in identifying unknown individuals from skeletal remains. They are trained to determine characteristics such as age, sex, ancestry, and stature, as well as to identify any trauma or pathological conditions that may be present in the bones.

This role is essential in criminal investigations, especially in cases where bodies are decomposed or otherwise unidentifiable due to the condition of the remains. By providing insights that can lead to the identification of victims, forensic anthropologists play a crucial role in resolving criminal cases and bringing closure to families.

Other fields mentioned, such as forensic psychology, criminalistics, and pathology, have distinct focuses. Forensic psychology deals with the psychological aspects of crime and legal proceedings, criminalistics encompasses the collection and analysis of physical evidence from crime scenes, and pathology is primarily concerned with the cause of death and disease through the examination of tissues and bodily fluids. While all these disciplines contribute to the broader field of forensic science, it is forensic anthropology that specifically addresses the study of skeletal remains.