ABSTRACT
The chance to learn about and solve exciting cases is likely what draws many students to the field of forensic anthropology: one can never be certain what puzzle will show up next. Many cases offer unusual provenience histories of remains (Chapter 10). Others offer difficult perimortem trauma for analysis (Chapter 13). Complex causes of death also are often presented in cases studies (Chapter 17). Some cases offer a series of subtle clues regarding the identity of the individual involved that must be pieced together to develop a biological profile (Chapter 1). Each of these examples can present an important caveat to guide future investigations, providing one possible explanation for a given set of observations and allowing a viable hypothesis to be formed. Unusual cases educate students and professionals about the ever-expanding boundaries of possible case resolutions.
