Forensic Archaeology

What is Forensic Archaeology

Forensic archaeology is a field of forensic science which involves application of archaeological methods in investigation of a crime scene in order to identify evidence and reconstruct crime scene, usually a murder. Forensic archaeologist are employed to excavate and recover human remains, personal items, weapons, etc. as well as eliminate non-related objects. The process of forensic archaeology is very similar to that used by traditional archaeologists when recovering remains from the past.

Fields of Forensic Archaeology

Forensic archaeologists are employed in cases involving buried human remains and buried evidence that is related to crime. But they may also be employed to help resolve civil cases involving buried evidence. The main fields of forensic archaeology include:

What Problems Forensic Archaeology Helps Resolve

Besides helping locate and excavate human remains, and identify objects relevant for a case, forensic archaeologists also help reconstruct the crime scene and determine the age of the crime scene, similarly to mainstream archaeologists when uncovering the relics of ancient civilisations.