Forensic archaeologists use archaeological techniques to gather and analyze evidence for forensic purposes, assisting law enforcement agencies in collecting evidence. They can determine the age and origin of remains and excavate crime scenes carefully. Forensic anthropologists can determine the time and cause of death. Forensic archaeologists can testify in court and must attend college or university to gain the necessary skills.
A forensic archaeologist uses techniques from the field of archeology in forensic medicine, gathering and analyzing evidence for forensic purposes. Specialists in this profession have formal training in archaeological techniques and can use it to investigate crime scenes and assist law enforcement agencies with the controlled collection of evidence, including human remains and items left at the scene. Their work can be invaluable in cases where limited evidence is available.
Historically, police officers and crime scene technicians have focused on documenting what they found at the crime scene, removing it, and securing it. In the process of excavating human remains from a grave, they may destroy valuable evidence or may not observe newsworthy information. Archaeologists are trained to carry out excavations and clearances very carefully, and their attention to detail and painstaking inspection of sites can be invaluable in forensics.
A police force may call a forensic archaeologist if there is any doubt about the age or origin of the remains, to determine if it is a criminal matter. Forensic archeology can also be applied to assisting with distinctly modern cases where a crime scene may be complex or have hidden clues. The team of forensic specialists can document and thoroughly excavate the crime scene, remove evidence, and take samples that can help determine the time of death. These may include pollen, flowers and other organic materials found at the site.
A forensic anthropologist may also be part of the team. Forensic archaeologist focuses on documenting and gathering materials, along with analyzing what is found, while forensic anthropology can be applied to determining the time and cause of death. A coroner may not have much information in the case of skeletal or partial remains. A forensic anthropologist has special training that she can use to assist in identifying such victims and developing a definitive cause of death.
In the event that a case goes to trial, a forensic archaeologist can testify about the removal, analysis and handling of evidence. She can provide information based on her examination of the evidence that can help with a conviction. You can also testify for the other party and can argue errors with the methodology that could invalidate the results or call them into question.
Students interested in forensic archeology will need to attend college or university to become a forensic archaeologist. They may take traditional archaeological training to build skills and may want to seek out a college or university with staff members who work in forensics and teach forensic classes. Not all archeology programs provide useful information for coroners who must be able to maintain a chain of evidence and testify effectively in court.
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