Forensic Anthropology: a typical Italian case report to understand possible future developments.

Summary — In Italy is still quite uncommon that a forensic anthropologist is involved in investigative cases. Three typical cases are illustrated to demonstrate anthropological investigations conducted in Italy: human bones emerging from soil; an unidentified, badly decomposed body from an outdoor scene; The skeletons of WWII soldiers recovered from a battlefield and processed for identification. Despite a few exceptions, unidentified skeletons, badly preserved bodies, and the presence of unrecovered soldiers from the last world war are the most common subject for anthropological investigations in Italy; but the international experience suggests further fields for the application of anthropological and archaeological techniques, improving the collaboration between pathologists, State Prosecutor Offices and anthropologists to create a more complete investigative team