Expertise and the expert witness: Contemporary educational foundations of forensic anthropology

This chapter focuses on the educational and experiential background of some of the founders of Forensic Anthropology. It addresses some questions through a framework that examines the expertise of the Forensic Anthropologist as it has developed and evolved to meet new and changing expectations. The chapter aims to survey the educational backgrounds and training of those individuals who have lent their expertise to the witness stand and to examine the state of these opportunities for students. It also focuses on the complex interaction between the Forensic Anthropologist and the legal system. The chapter presents the educational foundations of the field and the current state of educational and training opportunities in the United States. It provides a few lessons from the review in the hope that future outsiders will look to the field and explains a "fundamental nature" that is characterized by established standards of education and training.