Through a set of unique case studies written by an international group of practicing forensic anthropologists, Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology: Bonified Skeletons prepares students and professionals for the diverse range of cases and challenges they will encounter in the field. Every forensic anthropology case is unique. Practitioners routinely face new challenges and unexpected outcomes. Courses and introductory texts generally address standard or ideal cases. In practice, however, forensic anthropologists must improvise frequently during forensic archaeological recoveries and laboratory analyses based on case circumstances. Most forensic anthropologists have encountered unconventional cases with surprising results. While these cases act as continuing education for practitioners—better preparing them for future encounters— such learning opportunities may be limited by the extent of personal experiences. This text exposes practitioners and students to a diverse array of case examples they may not otherwise encounter, sharing experiential knowledge and contributing to the advancement the field. Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology aims to both prepare aspiring forensic anthropologists and inform current practitioners. The cases are interesting and unique, detailing how specific challenges contribute to the body of forensic anthropological knowledge and practice. Key Features Full-color photographs illustrate the scenes and skeletal features "Lessons Learned" sections for each case study emphasize take-away points Thought-provoking "Discussion Questions" encourage readers to think critically and facilitate group discussions Actual case experiences by diverse array of forensic anthropologists who discuss innovative methods and unique challenges

Table of Contents:
Introduction Estimation of the Biological Profile & Positive Identification Death Along the Tracks: The Role of Forensic Anthropology and Social Media in a Homicide Investigation Eric J. Bartelink The Skull in Concrete: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Identification Kristen Hartnett-McCann and Ruth E. Kohlmeier The Use of Medical Implants to Aid in the Identification Process Jennifer Vollner Biomechanical Analysis of Long Bones Provides the Crucial Break in Decedent Identification Daniel J. Wescott Race and the Role of Sociocultural Context in Forensic Anthropological Ancestry Assessment Michala K. Stock and Katie M. Rubin Globalization, Transnationalism, and the Analytical Feasibility of Ancestry Estimation Joseph T. Hefner and Jennifer F. Byrnes Forensic Taphonomy What Forensic Taphonomy Can Do for You: A Case Study in Rural Pennsylvania Andrea M. Ost, Rhian R. Dunn, and Dennis C. Dirkmaat Dismembered, Burned, and Dumped: But in What Order? Lindsay H. Trammell Body in the Barrel: Complex Body Disposal and Recovery Soren Blau and David Ranson Sealed for Your Protection: A Triple Homicide Involving the Use of a Corrosive Agent to Obscure Identity Laura C. Fulginiti, Kristen M. Hartnett-McCann, and Frank Di Modica Differential Diagnosis in Forensic Entomology: Mites vs. Pathologies and Taphonomy César Sanabria-Medina, Luz Elena Cifuentes, and Maria Alexandra Lopez-Cerquera Lacustrine Skeletal Taphonomy from Southeastern Tennessee Murray K. Marks, Jonathan D. Bethard, and Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan Trauma Who Pulled the Trigger…First? Bone Biomechanics Recreate the Story Behind a "Police Shooting" Steven A. Symes, Ericka N. L’Abbé, and Mark M. LeVaughn Forensic Anthropological Contributions to Manner of Death in a Case of Multiple Suicidal Gunshot Wounds Diana L. Messer A Unique Case of Skeletal Trauma Involving Scissors Alexandra R. Klales Sharp Force Trauma with Subsequent Fire Alteration: A Complicated Case Study Erin N. Chapman Forensic Anthropology's Role in Clarifying Cause of Death in the Appeal of a No Body Homicide Conviction Ashley E. Kendell, Eric J. Bartelink, and Turhon Murad Human Rights and Mass Disasters A Multi-Year Forensic Archaeological Recovery of Human Remains from a C-124 Cargo Aircraft Crash on Colony Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A. Gregory E. Berg, Owen L. O’Leary, and Kelley S. Esh Quadrilateral Defects in the Tuskulenai and Leon Trotsky Cases: Skeletal Trauma Associated with Soviet Violence in Two Different Contexts Cate E. Bird and Rimantas Jankauskas Sexual Offense in Skeletonized Cadavers: Analysis, Interpretation, Documentation and Case Report César Sanabria-Medina, Jorge Andrés Franco Zuluaga, and María Alexandra Lopez-Cerquera Making the Best of Limited Resources and Challenges Faced in Human Rights Investigations Eugénia Cunha, Maria Teresa Ferreira, Cristina Cordeiro, and Duarte Nuno Vieira Search for Spanish Civil War Victims in the Cemetery of Sant Ferran, Formentera (Spain): Oral Witness Testimonies, Secondary Deposition Site and Peri-Mortem Trauma Almudena García-Rubio, Juanjo Marí Casanova, Glenda Graziani, Francisca Cardona, Pau Sureda, Sergi Moreno, Nicholas Márquez-Grant Excavation and Analysis of Human Remains from Mass Graves in the Western Sahara Francisco Etxeberria, Lourdes Herrasti, and Carlos Martin-Beristain Other Considerations The Use of Human Skeletal Remains in Palo Rituals in Orange County, Florida John J. Schultz, Ashley E. Green, Ronald A. Murdock II, Marie H. Hansen, Joshua D. Stephany, and Jan C. Garavaglia To Understand the Parts, it is Necessary to Understand the Whole: The Importance of Contextualizing Patterns in Forensic Anthropology Casework Laura C. Fulginiti, Andrew Seidel, Katelyn Bolhofner Perpetrators, Pack Rats, and Postmortem Disturbances: A Case Study Involving Multiple Contexts, Jurisdictions, and Identities Angela Berg, Kent Buehler, and Carlos Zambrano The Case of the … Cases: The Flow of the Ordinary into a Medical Examiner’s Office James T. Pokines Acknowledgements Editor Biographies List of Contributors Index