Abstract
The Guardia Civil Crininalistic Service (Spain) recognises the high value of soil evidence in criminal investigations, as well as its strength as forensic evidence in judicial proceedings, due to its capacity to link a crime scene with a suspect. There is an average of 15 cases per year related to the forensic analysis of soils, which is conducted in our laboratory in the course of criminal investigations. One example is the case of looting at a Roman-Visigothic burial vault which took place in Moron de la Frontera (Seville, Spain), where the Guardia Civil Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) collected samples from the burial site and from the boots and tools found inside the boot of a suspect’s vehicle.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Blott SJ, Croft DJ, Pye K, Saye SE, Wilson HE (2004) Particle size analysis by laser diffraction. Forensic geoscience: principles, technique and applications. Geol Soc 232:63–73
Bommarito CR, Sturdevant AB, Szymanski DW (2007) Analysis of forensic soil sample via high-performance liquid chromatography and ion chromatography. J Foren Sci 52(1)
Color M (1994) Munsell soil color charts. Gretag Macbeth, New Windsor
Croft DJ, Pye K (2004) Colour theory and the evaluation of an instrumental method of measurement using geological samples for forensic application. Forensic geoscience: principles, technique and applications. Geol Soc 232:183–196
Fitzpatrick FW, Raven MD, Forrester ST (2009) A systematic approach to soil forensics: criminal case studies involving transference from crime scene to forensic evidence. In: Ritz K, Dawson L (eds) Criminal and environmental soil forensics. Springer, London, pp 105–127, Chapter 8, ISBN 978-1-4020-9203-9
Guedes A, Ribeiro H, Valentim B, Noronha F (2009) Quantitative colour analysis of Beach an dune sediments for forensic applications: a Portuguese example. Forensic Sci Int 190:42–51
Pirrie D, Power MR, Rollinson GK, Wiltshire PEJ, Newberry J Campbell HE (2009) Automated sem-eds (Qemscan) mineral analysis in forensic soil investigation: testing instrumental reproducibility. Criminal Environ Soil Forensic, 411–429
Pye K (2007) Geological and soil evidence. CRC Press, Boca Raton
Pye K, Blott SJ (2004) Compararison of soil and sediments using major and trace element data. Forensic geoscience: principles, technique and applications. Geol Soy, 183–196
Pye K, Croft DJ (2004) Forensic geoscience: introduction and overview. Forensic geoscience: principles, technique and applications. Geol Soc 232:1–5
Pye K, Croft DJ (2007) Fosensic analysis of soil and sediment traces by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis: an experimental investigation. Forensic Sci Int 165:52–63
Pye K, Blott SJ, Croft DJ, Carter JF (2006) Forensic comparison of soil samples: Assessment of small-scale spatial variability in elemental composition, carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, colour, and particle size distribution. Forensic Sci Int 163:59–80
Ruffell A, Wiltshire P (2004) Conjunctive use of quantitative and qualitative X-ray diffraction analysis of soils and rocks for forensic analysis. Forensic Sci Int 145:13–23
Sugita R, Marumo Y (1996) Validity of color examination for forensic soil identification. Forensic Sci Int 183:201–210
UNE 77305 Determinación del pH (1999)
UNE 77308 Determinación de conductividad eléctrica específica (2001)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this paper
Cite this paper
Santillana, E., Cordero, J.C., Alamilla, F. (2016). Forensic Soil Analysis: Case Study of Looting at a Roman-Visigothic Burial Vault. In: Kars, H., van den Eijkel, L. (eds) Soil in Criminal and Environmental Forensics. Soil Forensics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33115-7_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33115-7_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-33113-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-33115-7
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)