Which of the following is an essential aspect of forensic anthropology?

Forensic anthropology primarily focuses on the identification and analysis of human skeletal remains. This field combines principles of anthropology with the sciences of archaeology and forensic analysis to determine various aspects such as age, sex, ancestry, and possible cause of death from bones. By examining skeletal remains, forensic anthropologists provide crucial information that can assist in legal investigations, including identifying victims of crime or disaster.

The other options do not align with the core activities of forensic anthropology. Studying living subjects is the domain of medical professionals and psychologists rather than forensic anthropologists. Identifying forensic evidence might be part of the broader field of forensic science but is not a specific focus of forensic anthropology. Profiling living suspects falls under forensic psychology and criminal profiling, which is distinct from the study of skeletal remains. Thus, the correct focus is on the examination of skeletal remains, which is essential to the practice of forensic anthropology.