Forensic Archaeology is a relatively new discipline, having only been practiced for about a decade. A Forensic Archaeologist brings with them the combined knowledge of the forensic science of osteology typically used in law enforcement(the detailed study of the structure of bones and other skeletal elements)and archaeological techniques to help recover finds and provide vital evidence. An osteology background provides field guidance on the age, sex, and other physical characteristics of the remains, while their experience as an excavator allows them to examine the scene so that artifacts are accurately located and recovered.

Law enforcement use Forensic archaeologists to excavate gravesites and reconstruct events that took place prior to the burial of the victim to provide valuable evidence on the time and circumstances of, and the tools and techniques used for, burial. In addition, associated disciplines, such as forensic botany, forensic anthropology, and palaeopathology (the study of human skeletal remains to understand the health of individuals in the past) can be used to understand injuries prior to, around, and after the time of death of a victim as well as helping to identify individuals from their medical records.

As well as being used in individual criminal cases, international organizations like the UN have employed forensic archaeologists to excavate war crime or genocide graves at several sites in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Iraq. In addition, the developing area of Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) uses archaeological approaches to large disaster scenes to assist with the correct identification of bodies or body parts and also any later police investigations. For instance, the 2001 bombing of the World Trade Center employed Forensic Archaeology techniques.

So if you're fascinated by the science of crime scene investigation and also enjoy digging around in the dirt, a career in Forensic Archaeology might be right up your alley.

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