Forensic Archaeology and Forensic Taphonomy: Basic Considerations on how to Properly Process and Interpret the...

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Archaeology
• Taphonomy

Background:

• Medicolegal death investigation necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, with established protocols for indoor crime scenes.
• Outdoor crime scenes present unique challenges due to natural agents affecting evidence after deposition.
• Existing protocols are insufficient for the complexities of outdoor scene investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and define the roles of forensic archaeology and forensic taphonomy in medicolegal death investigation.
• To highlight the need for specialized protocols for outdoor crime scene processing.
• To outline the principles and practices for documenting and analyzing outdoor evidence.

Main Methods:

• Applying principles of forensic archaeology for documenting outdoor crime scenes.
• Implementing scene recovery protocols including contextual documentation (location, flora, fauna, environment) and spatial distribution of evidence.
• Utilizing forensic taphonomy for integrating scene data with laboratory analysis of biological tissues.

Main Results:

• Forensic archaeology provides essential principles and practices for diverse outdoor scenes (searches, scattered remains, fires, disasters).
• Scene recovery protocols ensure detailed contextual and spatial documentation of evidence.
• Forensic taphonomy enables hypothesis testing regarding events surrounding death and deposition.

Conclusions:

• Forensic archaeology and taphonomy are crucial for effective outdoor crime scene investigation.
• Specialized protocols enhance the scientific rigor of medicolegal death investigations.
• These disciplines provide frameworks for estimating postmortem interval and identifying human intervention.