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73 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Forensic Archaeology |
The application of archaeological excavation methods in the context of a forensic investigation |
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What does evidence include? |
All items recovered at the scene |
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What are examples of human remains that can be found at a scene? |
Bones Teeth Hair |
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What are examples of artifacts that can be found at a scene? |
Tools Art Weapons |
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What are biofacts? |
Natural elements that have been altered by human interaction (cut roots, chipped rocks) |
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What use can insects have when found at a scene? |
They can tell us how long remains have been in place. |
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What can plant growth tell us about remains? |
Timing of deposition Rates of decomposition |
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What can soil samples tell us about a scene? |
Differences in soil condition can tell us about decomposition and freshness of deposition site |
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What use are footprints at a scene? |
They could be tied to the deposition of the body, as long as the site is controlled and monitored (no new prints) |
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What are examples of tool marks that can be found at a scene? |
Digging or shovel marks Cut marks |
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How are tool marks useful to an investigation? |
They can often be matched to. |
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What types of fluids can be used as evidence from a scene? |
Biological and Non-biological |
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What are examples of biological fluid evidence? |
Blood DNA |
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What are examples of non-biological fluids? |
Oils Paints Incendiary fuels |
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Why are non-biological fluids useful to an investigation? |
They can often be matched to sources |
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What type of people will you usually find at a traditional archaeological site? |
Archaeological crew members |
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What is the benefit of only having archaeological crew members at a site? |
They have knowledge about maintaining the site |
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What are some people that may be found at a crime scene? |
Police Coroners News personnel |
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What is the problem of having various people at a crime scene? |
They may not be trained in scene preservation |
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Where are archaeology sites generally found? |
Completely buried |
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What is key regarding excavation of archaeological versus forensic sites? |
Archaeological sites are hard to contaminate, forensic sites are very easy to contaminate |
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Where are materials buried an an archaeology site? |
In sub-surface layers |
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What are the upper layers of an archaeological site considered? |
Sterile |
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What limits the risk of contamination at archaeology sites? |
Separation of materials |
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What is almost always found on ground surface layers of forensic scenes? |
Evidence |
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In a forensic scene, where is the burial feature generally opened? |
Directly onto the present ground surface |
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Where may remains in a forensic scene be found? |
Scattered |
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What is a part of a forensic scene you can't completely avoid affecting? |
The ground you walk on to get to the scene |
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What can your mere presence at a forensic scene do? |
Alter or destroy evidence |
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How does forensic evidence differ from finds at traditional archaeological sites? |
It is broader and potentially very subtle |
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What are some examples of evidence that one must be sensitive to at a forensic scene? |
Cut roots Dry leaves Dead vegetation Tool marks in the soil Shoe prints Kneeling prints Soil densities Fingerprints |
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What is an important property to consider when encountering artifacts at a forensic scene? |
They are frequently perishable. |
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What are examples of perishable artifacts that may be collected at the scene? |
Paper Cloth Plant products Insect evidence Hair Fingernails Other soft tissue |
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What does the safe collection, packaging, cleaning, and preservation of artifacts require? |
Special training and care |
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What is much more likely to be found at a forensic scene versus a traditional archaeological site? |
Dangerous materials |
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What are examples of dangerous materials that can be found at a forensic site? |
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Why is so important for there to be proper documentation and accountability with anything regarding a forensic scene? |
All methods, procedures, notes, and findings may be eventually questioned in a court of law. |
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What is the controlled recovery of human remains designed to do? |
Maximize the acquisition of information and evidence |
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What is archaeology at its base? |
A destructive process |
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What does proper documentation include? |
Observation Measurement Mapping Photography |
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Provenience |
The coordinate location of an item in 3-D space |
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What does provenience include? |
Latitude (North-South) Longitude (East-West) Vertical position (depth/elevation) |
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What are the measurements for provenience given in? |
Meters and centimeters |
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What does it mean to say a piece of evidence is "in situ"? |
An item is still in the primary position in which it was originally deposited. |
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What must happen for evidence that is no longer "in situ"? |
The forces that moved them must be explained and understood. |
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What are examples of things that may move evidence out of "in situ"? |
Humans Animals Water |
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What are easily missed by the untrained eye? What can make this even more difficult? |
Small bones and teeth Adhering dirt and debris |
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What is used to help avoid missing small evidence? |
Running it through a wire mesh, usually 1/4 inch or smaller |
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How many stages are there in the recovery and excavation of a site? |
Six |
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What is the first stage in the R&E of a site? |
To establish the scope of the site |
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What must be established and constructed once the scope of the site is established? |
Datum and a reference grid |
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Where is the Datum usually found? |
Commonly the southeast corner of the site |
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Datum |
The point on an archaeological site from which all measurements of level and contour are taken |
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What should the datum be tied in to? |
The national standard; usually sea level |
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What is every item found at a forensic site given, and for what purpose? |
A unique ID To identify it's location and depth |
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What is the information gained using a datum and reference point used for? |
To recreate and catalog the scene |
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When exposing the surface of the grid, what is the first thing to be removed, and why? |
Loose debris To define exact boundaries of features |
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How much of the soil is removed with the debris during the stage that exposed the surface of the grid? |
One centimeter |
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What is done with the uppermost soil removed during the stage that exposes the surface of the grid? |
It is screened and collected |
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After the initial centimeter of removal, how much dirt is removed at a time? |
Ten centimeters |
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What is left in place until the whole thing is exposed? |
Bones and artifacts |
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What is done after the grid has been completely exposed? |
The remains are excavated |
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What are examples of tools used to excavate remains? |
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How are bones and artifacts collected after excavation? |
In a controlled fashion Bagged |
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Where is the provenience information of an artifact recorded? |
Directly on the sack In a master log listing all the evidence |
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Where is evidence completely collected and analyzed? |
Off site |
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MNI |
Minimum Number of Individuals |
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What are the options when multiple bones from multiple individuals are found at a site? |
Each bone belongs to a different individual. The bones belong to one or more individuals, with multiple bones belonging to a single individual? |
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What is it most logical to assume when analyzing multiple bones from multiple individuals at a site? |
That they come from as few individuals as possible. |
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What are two things to consider when calculating MNI? |
A person can only have one of each bone. A person could have different sized bones on either side of the body. |
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Why is it possible for a person to have different sized bones on either side of the body? |
Differences in growth patterns, injury, or genetics |
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NAGPRA |
Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act |
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What must eventually happen to Native American remains and artifacts? |
They must be returned to their respective groups for reburial. |
