Becoming A Forensic Anthropologist

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Anthropology is a very interesting field of study. The field of Forensic Anthropology is particularly interesting to me because I able to really see how this side of Anthropology is applied in real life. Forensic Anthropology has various different subfields. A forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification of deceased individuals whose remains are decomposed, burned, mutilated or otherwise unrecognizable, as might happen in a plane crash. Forensic anthropologists are also instrumental to the investigation and documentation of genocide and mass graves. Along with forensic pathologists, forensic dentists, and homicide investigators, forensic anthropologists commonly testifies in court as expert witnesses. Using physical markers present on a skeleton, a forensic anthropologist can potentially determine a victim's age, sex, stature, and ancestry. In addition to identifying physical characteristics of the individual, forensic anthropologists can use skeletal abnormalities to potentially determine cause of death, past trauma such as broken bones or medical procedures, as well as diseases such as bone cancer. This field is interesting to me because it plays a big role in investigations that involve crimes where it is not immediately clear what happened to the victims. My research on this topic revealed to me steps to becoming a Forensic Anthropologist, the various things that Anthropologists do in the field, and how they are different from other fields of …show more content…
A person who is interested in becoming a Forensic Anthropologist must first earn a Bachelor’s degree in forensic science. This is a necessary step that will allow them to work as a science technician while continuing their studies in pursuing the necessary doctoral degrees. On the job training working as a technician is also a great way to build their understanding of the job requirements before they become a certified