This book contains the ABC of forensic anthropology. It provides a set of standard measurements used by every forensic anthropologists in the US.

As a beginner in the field of forensic anthropology, I need a book that provides a wealth of information. This book does a good job of fulfilling that. It gives an overview all the way from skeletal recovery to aging and identifying racial identity. Ubelaker gives suggestions on the best ways to excavate and house skeletons from the field accompanied with helpful diagrams and photographs. Their are a lot of statistics and graphs in the text that may be over the heads of some people but they provide a lot of good information. He also catalogues a number of anomilies and pathologies that may be found in the skeletons. Overall, a good reference text.

If you think the book is great, so is Dr Ubelaker. Everything he teaches in his course at the George Washington University is supplemented by this book. It's phenomenal, and would give any aspiring forensic anthropologist a good foundation to study. I also recommend his book Bones, an excellent resource.

Ubelaker's text has incredibly detailed descriptions of archaeological sites to accompany the wonderfully graphic sketches and photographs. This book allows neophytes and experts to enjoy and appreciate the study of human skeletal remains. I especially like his explanations of cultural manipulation of the dentition. Perfect for students of science, crime buffs and people who are interested in what clues we leave behind in our bones.

Although the authors are clearly very well versed in forensic anthropology, I was disappointed in the way they presented their material. The chapters weren't difficult to follow, but they read like memoirs of the authors' cases and I got the sense the authors were more interested in showing off than sharing knowledge with nonscientists. That made it tricky to isolate details, and frankly I've learned more from general crime scene books that devoted just one chapter to forensic anthropology. Bottom line: If you're looking for a solid reference book that you can turn to again and again, you'll probably find satisfaction only in the glossary at the end.

I have read Dr.Ubelaker's book and I have to say that it has been the most informative book on homicide investigation I have ever seen. Being a student in Criminal Justice, I have read many textbooks on homicide investigation. Only Dr.Ubelaker's book gives you the viewpoint of the investigator, leading you through his thought processes and conclusions, as he works to solve the identity of murder victims. This book was truly a fascinating piece. I would recommend it to anyone looking to pursue a career in law enforcement, medicine, and (of course) forensic anthropology

As a graduate student in forensic science, I enjoyed this book. It had real case studies in forensic anthropology. If you are looking for a reliable source on the subject, Dr. Ubleker is a perfect candidate. He is the curator of the anthropology section at the Smithsonian, works on cases with the FBI and teaches a class in Forensic Anthropology at George Washington University. The book holds the readers interest and explains scientific methods/terminology in Forensic Anthropology.