This paper explains that Dr. Douglas Ubelaker states in "Bones: A
Forensic Detective's Casebook" that human bones often can
tell the trained scientist more about the
individual, even an individual's geographic origin, lifestyle or occupation, than the friends or relatives ever could. The author points out that Dr Ubelaker credits the 33,000 individual skeletons housed in the Smithsonian with helping him in every
forensic case described in the book. The paper relates that identifying remains is an arduous task and is often made more difficult when someone attempts to cover up the crime or the identity of the victim through such methods as fire.