Which developments characterize the Modern Period (1972-1999)?

• A. Establishment of the Physical Anthropology section of the AAFS and the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, and human rights work.
• B. Emergence of SWGANTH guidelines and OSAC.
• C. Adoption of digital radiography for skeletal analysis.
• D. Beginning of mass disaster response teams.

Answer: (A)

This period is marked by the profession’s maturation through formal organization, certification, and human rights work. The establishment of the Physical Anthropology section within the AAFS and the creation of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology provided recognized standards and a formal credentialing path for practitioners, signaling a move from ad hoc practice to a structured, professional field. At the same time, forensic anthropologists increasingly engaged in human rights investigations, applying skeletal analysis to document abuses, identify victims, and contribute to accountability on an international scale. These developments—professional organization, certification, and expanded human rights work—best reflect the Modern Period (1972–1999). Other items concern initiatives or technologies that became prominent after this era, or fit less directly with its defining shift toward professionalization and human rights involvement.