Forensic Recovery of Human Remains

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