Future
What does the future of forensic anthropology look like? With new advances in DNA identification will there be more accurate measurements and identifications of "race"? Some recent research being done in the field of forensic anthropology focus on Molecular analysis of skeletal evidence, migrant identification, search, detection, and recovery, commingling analysis, biomechanics of bone trauma, decomposition research, bone microscopy, isotope analysis, facial imaging, and more. These are all advances in technology that could aid in a more accurate image of the person deceased. This new technology could also remove possible bias in predictions.
One such example of current forensic anthropological study is migrant identification. Deaths related to undocumented migration across national borders has become a major forensic challenge. Identification of remains can already prove difficult, however, with a lack of information regarding missing persons, the identification of immigrants has become very challenging. These efforts call for a lot of international communication and extraordinary attention to detail/analysis. It proves very difficult to find a positive identification for migrants found at the border, however, new techniques such as isotope analysis is able to help identify the skeletal remains likely region/country of origin. Dr. Kate Spradley, forensic anthropologist, "is the director of Operation Identification (OpID), a project that works with governmental and non-governmental organizations to identify migrant bodies found near the Texas-Mexico border in hopes of repatriating their remains to their loved ones who only know that they headed north from mostly South or Central America or Mexico and then disappeared" (Gilbert, 2020). The project's mission statement claims that "Alarming numbers of deceased persons have been buried as ‘unknown’ without proper analysis or DNA collection, leaving no hope for identification or repatriation,” (Gilbert, 2020). Though forensic anthropology is often only associated with crime cases, most forensic anthropologists will work to help the identification of remains in traumatic events (migration, 9/11, natural disasters, etc.).
Another advancement within forensic anthropology relates to Facial imaging. Forensic Anthropologists "relate to issues of facial imaging in facial approximation, craniofacial photographic superimposition and interpretations of surveillance images. Facial approximation refers to the process of estimating the living facial image of a person from the evidence presented by a recovered skull. This technique is used to reach out to the public for leads in missing persons that could culminate in identification using other methods" (Ubelaker, 2018). Craniofacial photographic superimposition, on the other hand, involves the comparison of a facial photograph of a missing person to a skull that has been recovered. This method is often used to exclude possible missing persons rather than identify the victims. Facial imaging and approximation involve a combination of art and science between forensic anthropologists and crime artists. These methods, however, are much more reliable at identifying "race" than through just the identification of bone. Forensic anthropology is a joint effort, and that is when it provides the most reliable and strong evidence.