Final answer:
Forensic anthropology is the scientific examination of skeletons to identify the individuals and circumstances of their death, working in conjunction with law enforcement and medical experts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scientific examination of skeletons in hope of identifying the people whose bodies they came from is called forensic anthropology. This field applies the methods of biological anthropology and human osteology to solve crimes, specifically to assist in identifying human remains and contributing to the determination of the cause of death. Forensic anthropologists work closely with law enforcement officers and medical experts, such as forensic pathologists, to piece together the story of a crime through the analysis of human remains. They are often vital in historical investigations as well, such as the study of the Jamestown colony or understanding the human context of the Black Death.
Forensic anthropologists are typically involved in the process of excavation at crime scenes and must first ascertain whether the remains are human. They estimate the individual's age, sex, race, and height, and provide this information to medical examiners who make the final determination of cause of death. This field is distinct from bioarchaeology, which focuses on human remains from archaeological contexts to understand the culture, diet, and disease of past populations.