Final answer:
Skeletal remains analyzed by forensic anthropologists can reveal age, sex, race, height, and potential causes of death. They provide demographic data and insights into historical events, such as whether individuals were clothed or possessed items at burial, and can show evidence of intentional injuries or diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
From skeletal remains, forensic anthropologists can deduce critical information about deceased individuals, especially in the context of forensic investigations or archaeological excavations. By examining the skeletal material, they can approximate an individual's age, sex, race, and height. These remains can also provide demographic data, offer insights into historical mortality patterns, and even implicate evidence of clothing and possessions at the time of burial.
The role of a forensic anthropologist is to analyze human bones to determine if they are human and to extract as much information as possible from them. Although they do not determine the cause of death, their analysis provides valuable data to forensic pathologists who do. In some cases, trauma to the skeleton can indicate violence or other causes of death, while in others, a lack of skeletal injuries can suggest death from diseases such as the plague.
Excavation findings can include evidence of intentional dismemberment or cannibalism, which is often corroborated by historical records. Analysis of skeletal remains has advanced to the point where forensic anthropologists can even identify specific injuries and relate them to potential weapons used, providing a deeper understanding of historical events.