Applied Archaeology and Physical Anthropology in a Forensic Context: A Review of Twelve Years of Forensic Anthropology in British Columbia

A review of 12 years of case work in forensic anthropology in British Columbia indicates that there has been a steady increase in cases involving skeletons of heritage significance with a decline in cases involving recent remains. The latter trend is attributed to altering perceptions locally of requisite qualifications for forensic osteologists. It is concluded that forensic anthropologists, who practice outside the administrations traditionally charged with death investigation, are vulnerable to being perceived as marginal in their contribution; and that in Canada we must promote our involvement in forensic science even more actively.