Final answer:
Forensic anthropology is the field where experts analyze human skeletons to provide evidence for legal cases, working alongside law enforcement and medical experts to identify characteristics of victims or perpetrators and contributing to the understanding of the nature of a crime or historical events.
Step-by-step explanation:
The description of a field where experts analyze human skeletons to provide evidence for legal cases fits the work of a forensic anthropologist. Forensic anthropology utilizes the methods of biological anthropology to assess human remains, like decomposed bodies or skeletons, and provide valuable insights into a crime. These professionals often work on investigative teams with law enforcement and medical experts, contributing to determining characteristics such as age, sex, and physical features of victims or perpetrators. They may also help in identifying historical events or mass disaster situations by analyzing skeletal remains.
While forensic pathologists are tasked with establishing the cause of death, forensic anthropologists provide crucial data by examining various elements, such as how long ago the person died and any postmortem injuries. Their work is essential not only for recent cases but also for historical cases, such as the analysis of remains from the Jamestown colony, which helped confirm accounts of cannibalism during a period of starvation.