Forensic Archaeology

Abstract

Physical anthropology has long been a necessary part of criminal investigation. Archaeology, which is another branch of anthropology, has rarely, if ever, been used even when the investigations involved a buried body. The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate the value of using modern archaeological techniques as an aid in investigations made necessary by the search for or the discovery of burials, either skeletonized or partly decomposed.

Front Matter

“…This definition, although similar to the definitions and descriptions of forensic archaeology as used by forensic specialists, mostly forensic archaeologists and/or anthropologists (e.g. Morse et al 1976Morse et al , 1983Morse et al , 1984Skinner 1987;Hunter et al 1994Dirkmaat and Adovasio 1997;Scott andConnor 1997, 2001;Christ 2001;Haglund 2001;Skinner et al 2003;Blau 2004;Blau and Skinner 2005;Hunter and Cox 2005;Menez 2005;Oakley 2005;Connor 2007;Dirkmaat et al 2008;Hanson 2008;Blau and Ubelaker 2009;Cox 2009;Dirkmaat 2012a;Dirkmaat and Cabo 2012;Hochrein 2012;, is primarily intended as a broad-spectrum working definition. A more tailored definition will be provided in the final part of this volume, Concluding Remarks.…”

“…However, there are also North American forensic anthropologists/archaeologists who see an important role for the archaeologist during the process of recovery (e.g. Krogman 1943aKrogman , 1943bMorse et al 1976Morse et al , 1984Boyd 1979;Duncan 1983;Morse 1983;Stoutamire 1983;Sigler-Eisenberg 1985;Mant 1987;Skinner 1987;Lovis 1992;Poirier and Bellantoni 1996;Christ 2001;Owsley 2001;Scott and Connor 2001;Gould 2002;Skinner et al 2003;Gould 2004Gould , 2007Bellantoni 2005;Connor 2007;Holland and Connell 2009;Skinner and Bowie 2009;Larson et al 2011;Snow 2011;Emanovsky and Belcher 2012;Tuller 2012). 5 In the United Kingdom and most of Northern Europe, archaeology and physical anthropology are seen as separate disciplines that have originated from distinctly different educational departments: archaeology and anatomy, forensic medicine or biology, respectively.…”

“…Imaizumi 1974;McLaughlin 1974;Morse et al 1976Morse et al , 1983Morse et al , 1984Kerley 1978;Boyd 1979;Snow 1982;Skinner and Lazenby 1983;Brooks and Brooks 1984;Sigler-Eisenberg 1985;Skinner 1987;Lovis 1992;Poirier and Bellantoni 1996;Dirkmaat and Adovasio 1997;Scott and Connor 1997;Dirkmaat and Cabo 2012;Foreword by Clyde Collins Snow, this volume). The need for development of controlled excavations by trained professionals became obvious as increasing number of cases involving human remains recovery -by unskilled law enforcement officials -resulted in poorly recovered human remains and loss of associated evidence (e.g.…”

“…The need for development of controlled excavations by trained professionals became obvious as increasing number of cases involving human remains recovery -by unskilled law enforcement officials -resulted in poorly recovered human remains and loss of associated evidence (e.g. Morse et al 1976Morse et al , 1984Skinner and Lazenby 1983;SiglerEisenberg 1985;Cabo and Dirkmaat, Chapter 31, this volume;Foreword by Clyde Collins Snow, this volume).…”

Rise of forensic anthropology

“…The foundation was laid by Krogman (1935) and Stewart (1948) with their publications on the role of physical anthropologists in medicolegal investigations. Nevertheless, most of the forensic articles in the anthropological literature did not follow until the post-1972 era (Bass, 1979;Morse et al, 1976;Kerley, 1978a; fscan, 1981a;Warren, 1981;Lundy, 1986). Book chapters were written by Krogman (1970) and Stewart (1979b).…”