ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Forensic anthropology

Forensic anthropology is when scientists use bones and other parts of the body to figure out how a person died or who they might be. Just like how a puzzle has different pieces that fit together, the bones in our body have different shapes and sizes that help the scientist figure out important things about the person.

For example, if a detective found some bones in a forest, they might not know who the person is or how they died. That’s when they call in a forensic anthropologist. The anthropologist would examine the bones very carefully to see if they could find any clues. They might look at the size and shape of the bones to figure out if it was a man, woman, or child. They may also look at the teeth to see if they can find any dental work or dental diseases that may help identify the person.

Sometimes, the scientist can even find out how the person died by looking at the bones. They might see a break in the bone that tells them someone hit them or they fell from a great height. The scientist can also look at the bones to see if there are any signs of illness that could have caused the person’s death.

Forensic anthropology is like being a detective, but instead of using clues from the scene of the crime, the scientist uses bones and their knowledge of the human body to help solve mysteries. It is a very important job because it can help families find out what happened to their loved ones or help police find out who did something wrong.