How anthropology work can help the cops

When a deceased may no longer be recognizable, law enforcement can turn to a forensic anthropologist to help figure out the person’s identity and possibly the circumstances around the death.  Clemson University this week drew attention to an Upstate case in which human remains were found in someone’s yard after a dog dragged several bones out of a creek.  According to Clemson’s anthropology department:  “Our assessment revealed that the size and shape of the bones were consistent with this Jane Doe being a middle-aged woman.  This information allowed local investigators to quickly narrow the pool of missing people in the area who fit that description.  Ultimately, they were able to identify this unknown person.”