Forensic Archaeology

Forensic archaeology is a discipline of forensic science.  It the application of archaeological theory and techniques in a legal context.

While this is often for criminal investigations it may also be for civil law.

The use of Forensic archaeology has now become an important aspect in the safe location, recovery and identification of buried individuals and remains.

Forensic archaeology is a rapidly evolving discipline and is now recognised in the UK and in the US.

Currently recognition in other countries is limited but growing.  This does not stop work being carried out in such countries such as with human rights investigation of war crimes and genocide.

Forensic archaeology is a young discipline and according to Hunter and Cox can be dated back in its own right to 1988.  However the first textbook in the field “Handbook of forensic Archaeology and Anthropology” by Morse et al was published as early as 1983, earlier still, the roots of forensic archaeology could be traced back to Bass who discusses archaeological techniques used in the excavation of gravesites in his 1978 FBI bulletin.

Forensic Archaeologist

As much of the body/skeleton should be recovered as possible as many subsequent examinations can be dependent on the safe and complete retrieval of the remains.

A forensic archaeologist should be present at the scene and it is important to recognise the benefits they can make as evidence can be lost due to the improper recovery of human remains (Hunter et al, 1996; Klinkner, 2008; Shultz and Dupras, 2008).

Due to the skills and perspectives gained from an archaeological background, a forensic archaeologist can contribute to crime scene processing, search methods and the safe recovery of remains whether decomposing or fully skeletonised (Shultz and Dupras, 2008).

Due to the supposed location of the body it is likely that the undergrowth may have grown over or even through areas of the remains resulting in a potentially complex recovery that should only be undertaken by a forensic archaeologist.  Their expertise in taphonomic changes to the body will help maximize the scene of crime and help interpret the events leading up to death and concealment of the body (Shultz and Dupras, 2008; Haglund and Sorg, 2002).

Where animals have been at work, scattered remains may often be partially or entirely buried and the presence of a forensic archaeologist may aid in the retrieval of remains and further searching through knowledge of disarticulation patterns (Hunter and Cox, 2005).