Linda L. Klepinger is the author of Fundamentals of Forensic Anthropology, published by Wiley.

• Photo Credits ixAcknowledgments xiSeries Introduction xiiiPart I Background Setting For Forensic Anthropology1 Introduction 3Overview of the Field 3Education and Training 5Overview of the Book 62 The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Historical Context 8The Somewhat Difficult Birth of a Specialty 8The Middle Years 11Approaching Senescence? 15Part II Towards Personal Identification3 Initial Assessments of Skeletal Remains 19Human or Not? 20Number of Individuals Represented 224 Assignment of Sex 25Criteria for Sex Attribution in the Adult Skeleton 25Pelvic Traits 26The Skull 28Visual Assessment 30Discriminant Function Analysis 31The Appendicular Bones 33Femur 33Humerus 34Other Appendicular Elements 35Miscellaneous Axial Bones 36Attribution of Sex from the Skeletons of Children 37Figuring the Error Rate 395 Age Estimation 42The Early Years 43Dental Age 44Bone Age 46Long Bone Length 46Union of Primary Ossification Centers 48Epiphyseal Fusion 49The Adult Years 53Macroscopic Methods 53Face of the Pubic Symphysis 53Sternal Extremity of the Rib 55The Auricular Surface 56Cranial Suture Closure 57Dental Methods 58Microscopic Methods 60Other Age Indicators 62Concluding Remarks on Adult Age Estimation 636 Deciphering Ancestral Background 64The Biological and the Cultural 64The Biological Context 65The Cultural Component 65Skeletal Indicators 66The Skull 66The Postcranium 757 Stature Estimation 77How Tall Are You, Really? 77Estimation of Living Stature from Skeletal Remains 78The Fully Method 79Stature Estimation From Long Bone Length 80Comparison of Methods 82Reporting Stature Estimates 83Correcting Stature Estimates for Older Adults 84Secular Trend 86Stature Estimates from Fragmentary Long Bones 86Stature Estimation from Short Bone Length 87Footwear and Foot Length 878 Skeletal Markers of Activity and Life History 89Childbirth Indicators 90Handedness 91Other Activity Markers 92Partial Medical History 94Medical Radiology 96Part III Principal Anthropological Roles In Medical–Legal Investigation9 Trauma 101Blunt Force Trauma 102Cranial Fracture 102Hyoid Fracture 105Postcranial Fracture 106Child Abuse 106Penetrating and Perforating Trauma 109Gunshot Wounds 109Sharp Injuries 11410 The Postmortem Period 117Estimation of the Postmortem Interval 117Postmortem Events 122Carnivore Scavenging 123Cremation 124Has the Body Been Burned? 125Fracturing 126Bone Shrinkage 129Dismemberment 129Ritual Use of Skeletal Material 13011 Professionalism, Ethics, and the Expert Witness 132The Expert Witness 133Standards and Credentials for Expert Testimony 134Some Practical Issues 136Ethics 137Science in the Courtroom: Two Unfortunate Examples 139When Good Science is not Presented 139When Good Science is Ignored 14312 Genetics and DNA 145Serology and Mendelian Genetics 146Forensic DNA Analysis 147,Legal Considerations 150References 152Index 175

"I enthusiastically recommend Fundamentals of Forensic Anthropology as reading in upper level forensic anthropology courses…both strongly theoretical and practical.  I also recommend it to all forensic-science professionals as a helpful reference to have at hand." (The Applied Anthropologist, Spring 2008, reviewed by Gabrielle Jones) "[The author] sets the standard for how textbooks should be engagingly written with clarity and humor." (reviewed by Jeri DeYoung, The Applied Anthropologist, Spring 2008)"…a valuable addition to the forensic science literature…essential." (CHOICE, June 2007)"...an important contribution from a well versed and experienced forensic anthropologist, and will serve as a useful summary of the state of the science today." (American Journal of Physical Anthropology, March 2007)"...the first of its level written in more than twenty years...an essential foundation for the practice of forensic anthropology." (SirReadaLot.org, August 2006)