The study of human remains applied to legal context.

• A. Osteology
• B. Archaeology
• C. Bioarchaeology
• D. Forensic anthropology

Answer: (D)

Forensic anthropology is the branch that applies the study of human remains directly to legal investigations and court cases. It uses skeletal analysis to help identify individuals, estimate age, sex, ancestry, and stature, and determine time since death or cause of death for medicolegal purposes. Osteology centers on bones in general, archaeology focuses on past cultures and material remains, and bioarchaeology studies health and life in ancient populations within archaeological contexts. None of those are inherently tied to contemporary legal proceedings like forensic anthropology is, which is why it’s the best fit for a legal context.