Application of Forensic Archaeology

Forensic Archaeology applied to the Mass Graves cases

Author Note

The aim of this essay is to show how knowledge, methods and techniques of forensic archaeology applied and developed in one case, have evolved and even found its deployment in other cases or even other scientific fields.

Introduction:

Forensic Archaeology is a forensic science, which applies archaeological techniques and methods, and put them in legal context. The principles and knowledge of this science are used, not only for studying and better understanding of historical events that took place decades or centuries ago, but also for locating and collecting evidence at crime scenes providing aid with solving crimes. Even though there is wide range of possibilities for Forensic Archaeology to be put to use, forensic archaeologists are usually employed to locate, excavate and make records or buried remains. So, despite great variety of the things they do, they are usually used for finding and exploring small item from a victim of crime that are buried, and that can be of great evidential value. Then, they are employed for locating possible gravesites and recovering any human remains, and at the same time recording evidence that can be associated with the remains. All this is done in order to complete the reconstruction of the events happened prior to the victim´s burial. Also, their expertise is required in cases when body disposals surface under some unpredicted circumstances. And at last, forensic archaeologist help with uncovering mass graves. In most cases these are investigations conducted by international organisations. The main focuses of investigations like these are not only gaining historical insights, but recording evidence, identifying indiv...

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reference:

Soren Blau. Handbook of Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology (World Archaeological Congress Research). (2011).

Caroline Steele. Archaeologies: Journal of the World Archaeological Congress. (2008)

William D. Haglund.(1996).Forensic Taphonomy: The Postmortem Fate of Human Remains

Tosha L. Dupras .(2011). Forensic Recovery of Human Remains: Archaeological Approaches

Brenda Sigler-Eisenberg. Forensic Research: Expanding the Concept of Applied Archaeology. (Jul., 1985). . pp. 650-655

Natasha Powers BSc MSc MIfA,Lucy Sibun BSc PgDip AIf..AStandards and guidance for forensic Archaeologists)

American Heritage College Dictionary.2004. Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin, New York.

http://www.aafs.org/ http://www.archaeologists.net/groups/forensic/ http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/ar/modern/archreview.html