A multivocal, comprehensive look at violent death as it relates to humanitarian crises. Review of: Anthropology of Violent Death: Theoretical Foundations for Forensic Humanitarian Action.

The article discusses the edited volume "Anthropology of Violent Death: Theoretical Foundations for Forensic Humanitarian Action" by Parra and Ubelaker. The book explores how anthropologists and practitioners in related fields approach violent deaths in humanitarian crises. It argues against the idea that civilization leads to less brutality and suggests that anthropologists can help society understand and address violence. The book covers topics such as human identification, memorialization, legal frameworks, and the relationship between concealment and uncovering of the dead. It also emphasizes the importance of consulting with the bereaved and adopting a biocultural approach to forensic anthropology. While some chapters may be convoluted and the book could benefit from better editing, it provides valuable theoretical perspectives for forensic practitioners and can be used in graduate seminars. [Extracted from the article]