Book Review: New Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification

The authors of this volume set out to provide a comprehensive reference of forensic human skeletal identification methods and practice for practitioners and advanced students of forensic anthropology. As a forensic anthropologist who practices in a busy medical examiner's office with colleagues from different, and in some cases dependent disciplines, I would argue that this book succeeds in meeting its goal, but is also of considerable value to practitioners of these other disciplines. It provides sufficient operational detail to be valuable not only as a teaching tool, but also as a reference for pathologists, attorneys, and law enforcement to understand the methods and capabilities, as well as the limitations of the methods employed by forensic anthropologists during the identification process. Forensic anthropology's research focus on quality, validation, repeatability, and reliability is evident throughout the book in its descriptions of methods and its recognition of method limitations. Several of the chapters outline current methods as advancements from previous methods, contributing to the reader's understanding of the historical context from which the methods were developed. The well-referenced chapters provide further context for those who are interested. The selection of authors is excellent, with each topic addressed by scientists with research and publication history on the topic. The array of methods addressed in the book is comprehensive, and logically organized. The anthropological literature is very active in this area, and methods are constantly being evaluated and modified for use in other populations, but the last book dedicated to the topic of methods of forensic identification with authorship of this caliber (T. Dale Stewart's Personal Identification in Mass Disasters) is now nearly 50 years old. So, at least for now, this book is a very valuable tool for forensic anthropologists, their students, and their colleagues