Forensic Archaeology

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xviii

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2. Theoretical Frameworks

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Different But Equal: The Philosophical Foundations of Forensic Archaeology

      • Kimberlee Sue Moran

      Pages 3-19

   3. Four-Field Forensic Archaeology

      • Derek Congram

      Pages 21-31

   4. Professionalism in Forensic Archaeology: Transitioning from “Cowboy of Science” to “Officer of the Court”

      • Melissa A. Connor

      Pages 33-42

   5. Forensic Archaeologist or Crime Scene Investigator?

      • Kimberlee Sue Moran

      Pages 43-56

   6. The Human Side of Forensic Archaeology

      • Ann Marie Mires, Randi Scott

      Pages 57-72

3. Forensic Archaeological Contexts

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 73-73

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   2. The Language of Forensic Archaeology: Discourses in Field and in Court

      • Anna S. Chaussée

      Pages 75-89

   3. Convincing LEO: Successful Interaction Between the Archaeologist and Law Enforcement Officials in Crime Scene Investigations

      • Michael J. Hochrein

      Pages 91-110

   4. The Use of Forensic Archaeology in Missing Person Cases

      • Ann Marie Mires

      Pages 111-141

   5. Landfill Searches for Human Remains

      • Brian D. Paulsen, Kimberlee Sue Moran

      Pages 143-152

   6. The Application of Archaeological Techniques to Forensic Fire Scenes

      • Karl Harrison

      Pages 153-162

   7. An Evolving Problem for Forensic Archaeology: The Involvement of Armed Users of Controlled Substances in Archaeological Crime

      • James E. Moriarty, David E. Griffel, Martin E. McAllister

      Pages 163-174

4. Multi-disciplinary Techniques & Methods

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 175-175

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   2. The Role of Palynology in Forensic Archaeology

      • Vaughn M. Bryant, Mary K. Bryant

      Pages 177-202

   3. Putting “Science” into Forensic Science: A Chemist’s Perspective on Forensic Archaeology

      • Susan White

      Pages 203-221

   4. The Use of 3D Laser Scanning in Forensic Archaeology to Document Unauthorized Archaeological Damage

      • Tate Jones, Martin E. McAllister

      Pages 223-234

   5. Forensic Archaeology and the Question of Using Geographic Profiling Methods Such as “Winthropping”

      • Sharon K. Moses

      Pages 235-244

5. Case Studies

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 245-245

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This book presents the multidisciplinary field of forensic archaeology as complementary but distinct from forensic anthropology. By looking beyond basic excavation methods and skeletal analyses, this book presents the theoretical foundations of forensic archaeology, novel contexts and applications, and demonstrative case studies from practitioners active in the field. Many of the chapters present new approaches and methods not previously covered in other forensic archaeology books, some of which may be of direct use to those conducting criminal investigations.

• Ethnoarchaeology
• Excavation methods
• Forensic anthropology
• Forensic archaeology
• Mass Fatality archaeology
• Skeletal analyses

“This book is of interest particularly to forensic pathologists, as well as to other professionals involved in the investigational process, such as forensic anthropologists and police investigators. ... The book aims to familiarize the audience with this new forensic discipline and to extend the knowledge of the experts interested in this particular field. … Careful reading of this book will provide the reader with the clear definition of forensic archeology and its distinction from forensic anthropology.” (Vedrana Petrovečki, Croatian Medical Journal, Vol. 60 (3), June, 2019)

• Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University – Camden, Camden, USA

  Kimberlee Sue Moran

• Norwood, USA

  Claire L. Gold

Kimberlee Sue Moran has been a forensic consultant and educator since 2002.  She holds an undergraduate degree in Classical and Near Eastern archaeology from Bryn Mawr College and a Masters of Science in forensic archaeological science from the Institute of Archaeology at University College London.  Her archaeological research includes ancient fingerprints, artificial cranial deformation, the Whispering Woods site in Salem, NJ, and the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia cemetery also known as “The Arch Street Project”. 

Kimberlee has worked on a number of forensic cases in a range of capacities.  She has also provided forensic services to legal professionals in the UK and regularly runs training workshops for local law enforcement.  She helped to launch the JDI Centre for the Forensic Sciences in 2010 and has run an educational organization, Forensic Outreach, since 2004. Her forensic research includes taphonomic studies, fingerprint development and enhancement, post-mortem toxicology, and the interface of forensic archaeology and crime scene investigation.  Kimberlee serves on the Crime Scene Investigation sub-committee of the NIST-led Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC).

Kimberlee is passionate about outreach and science education and is a regular participant and speaker for the Philadelphia Science Festival.  She often works in collaboration with the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and the Franklin Institute.  Kimberlee is an active member of the Society for American Archaeology, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Association for Women in Forensic Science, and Forensic Archaeology Recovery.

Claire L. Gold received a Master's degree in Biological Anthropology from the State University of New York, Binghamton, in 1998. She completed her undergraduate degree in Anthropology at The University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1995. Gold has taught as a lecturer in Biological and Forensic Anthropology since 2005 at The University of Massachusetts, Clark University and Bay Path University. Gold is dedicated to researching and developing effective teaching strategies for Anthropology and Archaeology.  Of particular interest: the introduction of anthropological concepts to the K-12 classroom that complement and reinforce current science and history curriculum standards. She developed a traveling workshop in 2010 that has visited local Massachusetts public schools to teach younger students about the subjects of Paleoanthropology, Archaeology and Forensic Anthropology. She has served as site photographer on several forensic archaeology projects, and continues to develop her skills as a site and artifact photographer.

Currently, Gold serves as the Northeast Director of a nonprofit organization dedicated to human rights of the missing and unfound, Forensic Archaeology Recovery; and as a consulting Physical Anthropologist, assisting with the excavation, photographic analysis and reinterment of the skeletal remains of 500 individuals recovered the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia cemetery, also known as “The Arch Street Project.”

Policies and ethics