Scope of Forensic Archaeology: Career Opportunities and Applications

The field of Forensic Archaeology is a unique amalgamation of science, criminal justice, and archaeology that plays an important role in discovering hidden evidence and truths buried in the earth thus bringing closure to several cases. This field uses various archaeological methods and techniques along with scientific principles in excavation and legal investigation to help law enforcement agencies serve justice to those who are victimized. These experts help crime investigators collect enough evidence required to solve a case. The cases that are solved by these professionals include murder mysteries, theft, and historical and contemporary mysteries.

The spectrum of jobs and career options that are available to forensic archaeologists is wide. Thus you should be clear with one thing if you choose the field of archaeology to make your professional career in, then your work zone will not be restricted to digging out the earth only. Instead, you will be required to testify in the courts to present your thoughts and facts on cases, accompany other crime investigators to the crime scene, and discover deep dark secrets to serve justice to the victims. Here in this blog, we have given an insight into the multidimensional scope of forensic archaeology, methods used for examination, its applications, and its significance in society.

What Is Forensic Archaeology?

The field of forensic archaeology is the application of archaeological and scientific methods in the legal world. But you don’t need to interchange the new field with traditional archaeology techniques. The older version of this field deals with uncovering or discovering the civilizations that were buried under the earth due to flooding or over the years under the influence of several natural and man-made factors. The new version of this field deals with investigating crime scenes, and clandestine burial sites to recover or collect evidence that proves to be beneficial in the crime investigation process. These professionals are dedicated to the excavation, examination, documentation, and analysis of the remains found at the burial sites. Followed by the reconstruction of events, identification of victims, and thus helps in the criminal investigation.

Scope of Forensic Archaeologists in the Government Sector:

Such candidates who pursue this particular forensics courses get the golden opportunity to work with prestigious government organizations while living their dreams. These professionals are hired by public sector organizations either through the entrance examinations conducted by the respective department of ministry or through the direct application process which is released by the authorities on their official website. To apply through the direct process, candidates are required to fill out and submit the application form followed by submitting the required fee as mentioned by the authorities. Some of the public sector organizations that hire such professionals to work as archaeologists are given below:

• State Police Departments,
• Crime Branches like CBI and CID,
• Forensic Science Laboratories,
• Intelligence Bureau,
• Archaeological Survey of India,
• High Courts and Supreme Courts,
• State Universities.

Scope of Forensic Archaeologists in the Private Sector:

Unlike other private sector jobs, the jobs offered to archaeologists in this field offer the best salaries in the market to their candidates. Since there are fewer vacancies and jobs available to people in this field in the market hence the competition among top recruiters to hire such professionals is tough and they strive to hire the best candidate who is an expert in the field. To give you an overview of the job options that are available for such candidates, here we have mentioned some of the private sector companies:

• Private Detective Agencies,
• Universities,
• Hospitals,
• Security Services Agencies,
• Law Firms.

Methodologies and Techniques Used By Forensic Archaeologists:

At the heart of forensic archaeology are meticulous methodologies and specialized techniques tailored for crime scene contexts. Here are some key methods used by these experts:

• Survey and Mapping: The foremost task of forensic archaeologists is to survey the site, using aerial photography, satellite imagery, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to identify anomalies that may indicate buried remains or disturbed earth.
• Excavation: The excavation process of the remains is conducted with utmost care to preserve the integrity of evidence. Techniques such as stratigraphy (layer-by-layer excavation), screening soil for micro-artifacts, and grid mapping are used to ensure systematic recovery of evidence.
• Documentation: Detailed documentation through photography, sketches, and notes is critical to reconstructing the crime scene accurately and maintaining a chain of custody for evidence.
• Laboratory Analysis: Once recovered, evidence undergoes rigorous scientific analysis in laboratories. This may include DNA analysis, osteological examination, forensic pathology, botanical analysis, and more, depending on the nature of the case.

Roles and Responsibilities of Forensic Archaeologists:

As mentioned above, these people play a wide range of roles and responsibilities and are crucial members of the law enforcement body. Their knowledge is important for delivering justice to the victims by examining and discovering such facts and evidence about a crime that are not spotted by other experts. Here we have mentioned some of the roles played by these experts:

1. Crime Scene Investigation:

Forensic archaeologists assist law enforcement agencies in criminal cases to locate, recover, and analyze evidence that is crucial for identifying victims or suspects, establishing the cause of death, and determining the timeline of events that occurred when the crime was committed. In the realm of criminal justice, forensic archaeology plays a crucial role in uncovering and interpreting physical evidence.

These experts work alongside law enforcement agencies to locate clandestine graves, analyze skeletal remains, and reconstruct crime scenes. By applying stratigraphic analysis, taphonomic studies, and other archaeological techniques, forensic archaeologists can determine the circumstances of death, identify victims, and gather evidence pivotal to criminal investigations. This interdisciplinary approach applied by these people bridges the gap between archaeology and forensic science, providing law enforcement with valuable tools to solve cold cases and bring perpetrators to justice.

2. Mass Fatality Incidents:

These experts come to action during natural disasters, conflicts, or accidents that result in mass fatalities. They are dedicated to recovering and identifying human remains buried under the earth thus helping in providing closure to cases and giving a cause of death of a person to their families. Along with this they also aid in disaster victim identification (DVI) to help the family of the deceased trace the body of their dead family members.

3. Historical Investigations:

It is not that these experts are only dedicated to analyzing and investigating contemporary cases instead they also look for evidence that has connections with history. Cases that involve the examination of ancient human remains and artifacts to discover the past events and practices that were performed in society in early times. Whether it’s discovering ancient civilizations, exploring historical battlefields, or investigating ancient crimes, forensic archaeologists provide a methodical approach to reconstructing history.

4. Humanitarian Efforts and Human Rights:

Beyond criminal investigations, forensic archaeologists also contribute significantly to humanitarian efforts and human rights advocacy. In cases that involve mass atrocities, genocide, or war crimes, archaeologists meticulously document and excavate mass gravesites to provide evidence of atrocities and identify victims. This work of archaeologists not only seeks to bring closure to affected families but also plays a critical role in prosecuting perpetrators.

5. Environmental and Disaster Forensics:

These experts extend their scope to environmental and disaster forensics as well. Forensic archaeologists assess natural or human-induced disasters. By examining patterns of destruction, sediment deposits, and archaeological evidence, specialists can reconstruct events such as floods, landslides, or industrial accidents. These investigators contribute to understanding the causes and impacts of disasters, informing mitigation strategies that need to be followed, and improving disaster response protocols.

Challenges Faced by Forensic Archaeologists:

Despite being an important pillar of society and crime investigation agencies, these experts are exposed to several challenges. Some of the common challenges faced by archaeologists are given below:

• Site Preservation: The experts in this field are required to preserve the crime scenes. It is because these sites are often contaminated or disturbed before the investigative teams arrive at the scene thus compromising the integrity of evidence.

1. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: These professionals are required to collaborate with other teams and experts in the field of forensics like forensic scientists, law enforcement personnel, legal professionals, and other specialists. And this thing can turn out to be challenging as well because different experts use different methodologies and techniques to solve a case.

• Ethical Considerations: When it comes to handling the dead remains and sensitive evidence collected from the crime scene requires adherence to ethical guidelines and cultural sensitivities. It becomes even more important in cases that involve historical or indigenous contexts.

Forensic archaeology is an intersection of science, history, and justice by offering a unique perspective on the past while serving the needs of modern society. From helping the experts in criminal investigations to unraveling historical mysteries, these experts play a crucial role in uncovering truths that impact people, communities, and the course of justice. As technologies in forensics advance and methodologies evolve with each passing day, the scope of forensic archaeology continues to expand. Thus it promises new insights and solutions to the challenges of tomorrow that can come in the way of criminal investigation.

In a nutshell, the task of forensic archaeologists is not easy and not only deals with the mysteries related to the past but also helps in the delivering justice to crimes that occur in present. Hence the role played by forensic archaeologists is very important in today’s society and receives huge respect from the people.

References:

• https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/ antp07/chapter/definition-aim-and -scope-of-forensic-anthropology/ #:~:text=management%20and%20analysis .-,It%20involves%20the%20determination% 20of%20whether%20the%20skeletal% 20remains%20are,unique%20individual% 20characteristics%3B%20the%20estimation
• https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/scope-of-forensic-anthropology/52301850