Archaeologists may sometimes excavate human remains, particularly when a burial site is to be destroyed by upcoming construction. However, state and Federal laws strictly govern how to deal with human remains, and ensure that they are treated with respect. If there are living people who may be related to those at a burial site, then their wishes are taken in to account when excavating and analyzing the remains.
If undertaken, the analysis of human remains and any associated burial goods can help to identify the age, sex, height, health, nutritional status of the individual, and may be able to provide important information on the culture.
