I am so delighted to be asked to write the foreword for a text where I understand so little of the background science. A reasonable question might be, then why ask a forensic anthropologist to do this when she barely passed Higher Chemistry and has absolutely no experience in the field of stable isotope analysis? One of the most important aspects of working within a forensic team is to know the limits of one’s own ability and to recognize and utilize the strengths of others. It has been my pleasure to work with Wolfram for many years and when forensic casework comes to me, it is without second thought that I pass it on to him knowing that the investigative authorities will not be hoodwinked by a pseudoscientist. A single-author text in these days is rare and the value of this book lies in the dedication and experience of the author, which is evident in the clarity of prose, the honest illustration of evidence and the realistic practical application of the subject – it makes this a text of genuine scientific value. That a second edition has been requested is a clear indication that the field is still progressing and that new research is still being reported. In the current world of forensic science flux, it is vital that robust scientific research endeavours continue and that it be reported not only in published peer-reviewed papers but collocated in scholarly tomes for easy reference.