Anthropology as a discipline has as its study arena, the works and engagements of people. Forensic anthropology is a specialised sub-discipline that confines itself to those behaviours and manifestations of human activity that overlap with the judicial field, and pertain to the law.

Anthropology Forensic Research is a consultancy agency that undertakes research and addresses issues that are underpinned by legislation and legal codes. Crimes are part of the modern contemporary society and have a social basis. Anthropology Forensic Research provides information that can be used in policy development, social innovations and directions to improve the social fabric.

One key area of assignments is searching for unlocated burials of murder victims. Known as clandestine graves, the prospective geographical survey area may be quite large. The surface must be carefully examined to exclude areas first, and proceed to identifying ground signs associated with changes that result from digging and burying a body. This work may include the use of geophysical instruments to “read” the subsurface for signs that stand out against the usual subsurface survey of the surrounding area.

An important part of the location exercise is assessing the information used to target an area for searching. Police are the lead investigators in such criminal investigations and persons volunteering information to them provide vital data. This must be considered against possible confusion of landmarks, changed landscapes over time, and patterns of burial activities.