Final answer:
The study of modern human skeletal remains from archaeological sites is termed Osteology, which is part of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology within the field of anthropology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study of modern human skeletal remains from archaeological sites is known as Osteology, which falls under the broader field of anthropology, particularly bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Forensic anthropology applies the methods of osteology to legal investigations, identifying human remains and aiding in the determination of how individuals may have died. It combines knowledge from physical anthropology and human osteology. Bioarchaeology, on the other hand, explores human remains in archaeological contexts to understand cultures, diseases, diets, and other aspects of past populations based on their biological remains.
When dealing with the examination of skeletal material from archaeological sites, both bioarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists play crucial roles. Bioarchaeologists might study evidence like cranial boarding in infants to decode social identity, while forensic anthropologists could be called upon to analyze cut marks on a skeleton to help decipher historic events, such as cases of cannibalism during a settlement's starvation period.
The correct answer to the student's question would be d) Osteology, which is the study of the structure and function of the skeleton and bony structures.