„I enthusiastically recommend Fundamentals of ForensicAnthropology as reading in upper level forensic anthropologycourses... both strongly theoretical and practical. I alsorecommend it to all forensic-science professionals as a helpfulreference to have at hand.“ (The Applied Anthropologist, Spring 2008, reviewed by Gabrielle Jones)
„[The author] sets the standard for how textbooks should beengagingly written with clarity and humor.“ (reviewed by JeriDeYoung, The Applied Anthropologist, Spring 2008)
„... a valuable addition to the forensic scienceliterature... essential.“ (CHOICE, June 2007)
„... an important contribution from a well versed and experiencedforensic anthropologist, and will serve as a useful summary of thestate of the science today.“ (American Journal of PhysicalAnthropology, March 2007)
„... the first of its level written in more than twentyyears... an essential foundation for the practice of forensicanthropology.“ (SirReadaLot. org, August 2006)
Fundamentals of Forensic Anthropology
von Linda L. KlepingerThis text is the first of its level written in more than twentyyears. It serves as a summary and guide to the core material thatneeds to be mastered and evaluated for the practice of forensicanthropology.
The text is divided into three parts that collectively provide asolid base in theory and methodology:
* Part One, „Background Setting for Forensic Anthropology,“introduces the field and discusses the role of forensicanthropology in historic context.
* Part Two, „Towards Personal Identification,“ discusses initialassessments of skeletal remains; determining sex, age, ancestralbackground, and stature; and skeletal markers of activity and lifehistory.
* Part Three, „Principal Anthropological Roles in Medical-LegalInvestigation,“ examines trauma; the postmortem period; professionalism, ethics, and the expert witness; and genetics andDNA.
The critical and evaluative approach to the primary literaturestresses the inherent biological constraints on degrees ofprecision and certainty, and cautions about potential pitfalls. Thepractical focus, coupled with theoretical basics, make Fundamentalsof Forensic Anthropology ideal for upper-level undergraduates andgraduate students in biological anthropology as well as forensicscientists in allied fields of medical-legal investigation.
