Definition of a Forensic Archeologist

According to experts, the forensic sciences and particularly forensic archaeology are terms "with a peculiar attraction which media companies deliberately exploit...the word has a perceived glamour status, quite different from reality..."

History

The relationship between forensic archaeology and criminal investigation only began to be taken seriously by police forces as recently as 1988 in the United Kingdom. Because a forensic archaeologist has no independent legal powers, he must work under the direction and budget of the police who employ him. Historically, crime scenes that require a forensic archaeologist have been treated with haste by investigators working under a strict timeline and budget, resulting in the loss of useful evidence.

Function

A forensic archaeologist uses archaeological techniques for legal purposes. Much like excavating a site for its historical significance, she will dig for evidence on crime scenes such as wallets, cell phones, clothing and bones. A forensic archaeologist can reconstruct past events by interpreting the type of items found and the location of the items or the lack thereof. Particular questions that may be answered by the dig include the time and circumstance of the death and disposal, the manner of death, and the tools and techniques used to make the kill.

Methods

Forensic archaeologists use several methods on a crime scene. These may include geophysical prospecting (using polarization, magnetics. and gravity to detect objects beneath layers of rock, soil, and other sediment), aerial photography (taking photographs of the ground from an elevated camera), surveying (gathering and analyzing measurement data relating to the land), excavation (artfully hollowing out a spot in the ground by digging, cutting or scooping), radar (using electromagnetic waves to detect distant objects), resistivity (analyzing an object's resistance to an electrical current) and geomorphology (using knowledge of characteristics, configurations and evolution of rocks).

Misconceptions

Contrary to its portrayal on television, forensic archaeology is not a glamorous job that always results in cracking the case. Because forensic archaeology has only recently gained its deserved credibility, jobs are limited. "Of 800 homicides recorded in a year, roughly 15 per cent will require an archaeological approach," according to Hunter et al. For students interested in a career in forensics, forensic archaeology in particular is a minor discipline. Classes mostly "provide awareness, intellectual breadth and technical understanding, as opposed to vocational opportunity."

Positives

Forensic archaeologists must have extensive knowledge of all the fields in forensic science and work alongside police, pathologists, detectives and other professionals. Their job is largely hands-on and when they are not in the field investigating a crime scene, they are considered expert witnesses at trial and are often vital to winning cases.

References

• "Forensic Archaeology: Advances in Theory and Practice"; John Hunter et al; 2005
• "Journal of Forensic Science: Forensic Archaeology"; Morse D et al; April 1976