A General Overview of Forensic Anthropology

Introduction

If you are a fan of the DC hero Barry Allen, known more famously as The Flash, you would know that outside of saving the citizens of Central City, he works as a forensic scientist for the Central City Police Department (CCPD). The beloved hero is seen working overtime in movies, shows, and comics, serving the city as both superhero and forensic scientist! But what exactly is forensic science? More importantly, what is forensic anthropology, a field not as commonly discussed? What do people with this career do, and why is it important to the medical field? This post will answer these questions, so let’s get started. 

What is Forensic Anthropology?

Forensic anthropology is defined by the National Museum of Natural History as the sub-special field of physical anthropology (the study of human remains) that involves applying skeletal remains and techniques in archaeology to solve criminal cases. Furthermore, the American Board of Forensic Anthropology reports that forensic anthropology deals directly with sciences and methodologies of applied physical/biological anthropology to convey and work with medicolegal issues, including personal identification and occurrences surrounding death(s). This field works primarily with human remains analysis, biological profiling, and trauma and injury interpretation. 

Fun Fact: Forensic anthropologists do more than identifying missing people! According to an article written by archaeologist Kris Hirst about the history of the field of forensic anthropology, people working in this field are also vital in mass fatality events such as accidents or historical investigations.  

The Difference Between Forensic Science and Forensic Anthropology 

The biggest difference between forensic science and forensic anthropology comes down to the fact that forensic science is broad, according to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). 

It’s the broad multidisciplinary application of scientific principles to legal matters and covers various specializations such as DNA analysis and forensic biology. On the contrary, forensic anthropology is a specific branch within forensic science that applies biological and physical anthropology to different criminal and legal cases. Forensic anthropology focuses on the analysis of human skeletal remains to correctly determine identity and to accurately provide insights into details concerning the person’s age, sex, overall build, etc. As for the career itself, forensic scientists are responsible for preparing evidence for legal investigations.

For example, the NIJ reports that forensic photographers document crime scenes and evidence. Additionally, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, one of the oldest osteopathic schools in the nation, offers degrees in forensic sciences. states on its website that forensic toxicologists’ work includes the analysis of poisons and drugs and their effects on the body.

Fun Fact: Forensic anthropologists don’t work in isolation! They work and collaborate with forensic archaeologists, entomologists (insect experts), and homicide investigators to fully develop a complete picture of the case they’re working on, according to a paper available via the National Institute of Health’s PubMed Central archive. 

The Role of Forensic Anthropologists 

Unlike how forensic scientists are usually portrayed in the media, forensic anthropologists aren’t found at the scene of the crime. You wouldn’t find them collecting evidence, running DNA tests, or analyzing blood spatter, ballistics, or weapons. Forensic anthropologists typically deal with human remains. Their job is to clean the bones so that they might be properly analyzed, to assist law enforcement with the location of and the recovery of the human remains, and to analyze skeletal remains to establish a biological profile. These are some examples of what you’d find a forensic anthropologist doing, according to the University of Tennessee's forensic anthropology center’s website. As the National Museum of Natural History writes in their article on forensic anthropology, “A forensic anthropologist can read the evidence in a skeleton like you read a book.”

How to Get Started 

If you find yourself interested in this field one day, here are some things to check out! 

• The American Board of Forensic Anthropology - Offers several helpful articles that give insights into the career, what schooling looks like, and many other essential information for someone interested in the career of forensic anthropology.

• Watch videos of forensic anthropologists - Seeing what their day-to-day lives are like can help someone who isn’t 100% on the career see if the occupation is for them. Watching (accurate, relevant) videos about forensic anthropologists can also inform and teach an audience a lot about the field, and can answer questions a person might have regarding forensic anthropology. 

• Look for colleges that offer programs and degrees in forensic anthropology - If this career interests you, searching for a college that will provide fundamental information for someone interested in going into forensic anthropology is a great step to take! 

Final Thoughts

I hope you found this blog post insightful and fun, as I know I did when I was writing it. Again, thank you so much for reading, and don’t forget to come back for future posts.

Written by Gabrielle B and researched by Keegan W

2025 The HEAL Project