Forensic Anthropology Teams in Latin America

Book excerpt: This book charts the development of forensic anthropology teams in Latin America and surveys their main characteristics, achievements, and challenges in light of a recent past fraught with state repression and violence. The volume contains contributions by an interdisciplinary group of scholars from several Latin American universities, with chapters on Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Guatemala, and Mexico. These countries’ shared legacy is a host of human rights violations that continue to have an impact on present day society. Following the move towards democracy and a public demand for truth and justice, the volume highlights the role of forensic anthropology teams and their contribution as a source of information for the historical narrative, as a legal asset in enforcing the right to truth, and in achieving reparation for victims. This collection will be of interest to scholars from Anthropology, Latin American Studies, Politics, and History.