Forensic archaeology

Forensic archaeology applies archaeological methods to locate, recover, and interpret evidence, especially buried or disturbed human remains, for legal investigations.

Archaeological survey: Systematic examination of a landscape to locate and record archaeological features and materials. Survey methods help identify likely burial sites before excavation begins.
Crime scene investigation: The systematic documentation and examination of a location where a crime may have occurred. Archaeological recording can recover buried evidence while preserving its location and associations.
Archaeology: The study of past human societies through material remains and their contexts. Forensic archaeology adapts archaeology’s excavation and recording principles to legal investigations.
Forensic pathology: The medical investigation of deaths to determine cause and manner. Pathology examines causes of death; archaeological methods document the scene and deposition.
Geophysical survey: Non-invasive measurement of physical properties beneath the ground to detect buried features. Ground-penetrating radar and related tools can reveal anomalies without disturbing a suspected grave.
Mass grave: A burial place containing multiple human bodies, often associated with violence or disaster. Excavation can document body positions and grave formation as evidence of events.
Forensic anthropology: The analysis of human skeletal remains for questions relevant to legal investigations. Anthropological examination complements archaeological recovery by assessing the remains themselves.
Forensic entomology: The use of insects and other arthropods to answer questions in legal investigations. It interprets insect evidence, a different line of evidence from archaeological context.
Forensic excavation: Controlled removal and recording of deposits and evidence at a suspected crime scene. Excavation applies stratigraphic recording to recover remains and associated evidence in context.
Disaster victim identification: The process of identifying people who died in mass-fatality incidents. Archaeological recovery can organize fragmented or commingled remains for identification.

Linked from 9 pages