What is a primary focus of forensic anthropology?

What is a primary focus of forensic anthropology?

• A. Assessing mental states of suspects
• B. Determining the cause of death
• C. Identifying human remains
• D. Collecting physical evidence at crime scenes

Answer: (C)

Forensic anthropology primarily focuses on identifying human remains. This specialist field involves the examination of skeletal remains to determine the identity of deceased individuals, as well as provide information about their age, sex, ancestry, and stature. By analyzing bones, forensic anthropologists can also glean insight into the circumstances surrounding death, such as trauma or disease, and help establish a biological profile that can greatly assist law enforcement and legal entities in solving crimes and identifying victims. The other options, while they pertain to different forensic disciplines, do not align with the core focus of forensic anthropology. For instance, assessing the mental states of suspects is a function more relevant to psychology or psychiatry, while determining the cause of death usually falls under the purview of forensic pathology. Additionally, collecting physical evidence at crime scenes is primarily the responsibility of crime scene investigators or forensic technicians, rather than forensic anthropologists who specifically deal with skeletal remains.

Forensic anthropology primarily focuses on identifying human remains. This specialist field involves the examination of skeletal remains to determine the identity of deceased individuals, as well as provide information about their age, sex, ancestry, and stature. By analyzing bones, forensic anthropologists can also glean insight into the circumstances surrounding death, such as trauma or disease, and help establish a biological profile that can greatly assist law enforcement and legal entities in solving crimes and identifying victims.

The other options, while they pertain to different forensic disciplines, do not align with the core focus of forensic anthropology. For instance, assessing the mental states of suspects is a function more relevant to psychology or psychiatry, while determining the cause of death usually falls under the purview of forensic pathology. Additionally, collecting physical evidence at crime scenes is primarily the responsibility of crime scene investigators or forensic technicians, rather than forensic anthropologists who specifically deal with skeletal remains.