"Currently, many diverse and complex approaches are available for the analysis of burned human remains, as documented in chapters of this book. However, these methods have been developed slowly over the last few decades. When the first author entered the field of forensic anthropology in the late 1960's and early 1970's relatively few methods were available. At that time, fragmentary burned human remains were frequently discarded or ignored with the sentiment that little information could be gleaned through analysis. That attitude has slowly evolved through recognition that although burning and skeletal fragmentation present limitations to analysis, actually a great deal can be learned with proper training and thoughtful selection of methods. As in other areas of forensic science, the problems presented by casework stimulated innovative research. That research led to new methods of analysis augmenting the information that can be extracted. This chapter examines the historical development of the casework and experimentation that have fed that intellectual and methodological progress. While the entire literature on this subject is too exhaustive to be presented fully, key publications marking that progress are highlighted"-- Provided by publisher.