Forensic Recovery of Human Remains: Archaeological Approaches

AN INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY AND FORENSIC ARCHAEOLOGY What Do Forensic Anthropologists Do? What Do Forensic Archaeologists Do? Where Are Forensic Anthropologists and Forensic Archaeologists Employed? How to Find a Forensic Anthropologist or Forensic Archaeologist TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT Search and Site Preparation Equipment Field Excavation Equipment Mapping and Measuring Equipment Drawing and Recording Equipment Optional Equipment SEARCH TECHNIQUES USED IN LOCATING HUMAN REMAINS Types of Search Areas Planning the Search Other Recommendations for Visual Searches Briefing Team Members Prior to a Search Indicators to Look for When Searching for Burials and Surface Remains Cadaver Dogs Intrusive Search Methods Shovel Testing and Shovel Shining Forensic Backhoe GPR AND OTHER GEOPHYSICAL SEARCH TECHNOLOGIES Ground-Penetrating Radar Conductivity Meters Resistivity Meters Magnetometers Metal Detectors Magnetic Locators Side-Scan Sonar How to Find a Consultant for a Geophysical Survey THE COLLECTION OF BOTANICAL AND ENTOMOLOGICAL EVIDENCE Forensic Botany Forensic Entomology SURVEY AND MAPPING TECHNIQUES Scales for Recording Data Accuracy in Recording Data Transit Survey Systems Compass Survey Selecting a Framework for Mapping Global Positioning Systems Photograph and Map Resources THE APPLICATION OF FORENSIC ARCHEOLOGY TO CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIONS General Principles of Archaeology Process of Burial Description of Burials Position and Orientation of the Body Archaeological Approaches to Recovering Human Remains Packaging and Storage of Human Skeletal Remains Recovery of Fleshed Remains Recovery of Juvenile Remains Recovery of Burnt Remains FORENSIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL CASE STUDY IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN REMAINS Typical Skeletal Terminology Used in Forensic Reports Basic Adult Human Skeletal Biology The Subadult Skeleton Human Dentition DISTINGUISHING NONHUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS Distinguishing Humans from Other Mammals The Bird Skeleton The Reptilian Skeleton The Amphibian Skeleton The Fish Skeleton Nonhuman Animal Bones Commonly Confused with Human Bones APPENDICES Appendix 1: Basic Equipment Checklist Appendix 2: Entomology Kit Checklist Appendix 3: Entomology Notation and Collection Checklist Appendix 4: Entomology Specimen Log Sheet Appendix 5: Entomology Data Form (After Byrd, 2001) Appendix 6: Entomological Preservation Solutions (Terrestrial) Appendix 7: Measurement Equivalents and Conversion Factors Appendix 8: Hypotenuse Table for Constructing Grids Appendix 9: Checklist Adult Skeletal Inventory Form Appendix 10: Adult Skeletal Inventory Image Appendix 11: Juvenile Skeleton Inventory Image GLOSSARY REFERENCES INDEX