First, the authors describe the content and format of the skeletal inventory and the examination procedures used for data collection. Two subsequent sections illustrate the use of these data to determine age, sex, ancestry, stature, and other distinguishing characteristics, along with the presence and nature of any premortem, perimortem, and postmortem trauma. The next section discusses how these findings assist in establishing positive identification through, for example, comparison with medical, dental, and other background records, especially comparison of premortem and postmortem radiographs of bones or dentition. In this context, the authors also consider the sorting of commingled remains, which includes preliminary assessment of rapidly decomposing remains prior to autopsy to preserve information crucial to identification. 10 figures and 11 references