Final answer:
A forensic anthropologist may find human remains in mass graves which are analyzed to approximate age, sex, race, height, and piece together the story of the crime. They provide critical information to forensic pathologists and contribute to investigations of both contemporary and historical events.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the analysis of victims of mass graves, a forensic anthropologist may find human skeletal remains which they will carefully examine to derive information about the victims and the crime. These experts have a deep knowledge of excavation techniques and human osteology, which assists them in identifying whether the remains are human and to approximate the individual's age, sex, race, and height. They analyze patterns of bodily trauma, decomposed bodies or skeletons, and tissue samples to piece together the story of the crime. Forensic anthropologists work closely with law enforcement officers and medical experts, including forensic pathologists who determine the cause of death. They play critical roles in uncovering not just contemporary crimes but also historical events, such as the excavation of the Jamestown colony which provided evidence of cannibalism during a harsh winter. In mass graves, they may encounter signs of desecration, deterioration, the burial of individuals with their personal effects like clothing or coins, and varying degrees of anatomical articulation indicating the time lapse between death and burial.