1st Edition

Advances in Forensic Taphonomy Method, Theory, and Archaeological Perspectives

Edited By William D. Haglund, Marcella H. Sorg Copyright 2002
    544 Pages 300 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    The taphonomic approach within paleontology, archaeology, and paleoanthropology continues to produce advances in understanding postmortem biochemical and morphological transformations. Conversely, advances in understanding the early and intermediate postmortem period generated in the forensic realm can and should be brought to the attention of scientists who study the historic and prehistoric past.

    Building on the success of Forensic Taphonomy: The Postmortem Fate of Human Remains, Advances in Forensic Taphonomy: Method, Theory, and Archaeological Perspectives presents new and updated techniques. It expands the taphonomic focus on biogeographic context and microenvironments and integrates further the theoretical and methodological links with archaeology and paleontology.

    Topics covered include:

  • Microenvironmental variation and decomposition in different environments
  • Taphonomic interpretation of water deaths
  • Mass graves, mass fatalities and war crimes, archaeological and forensic approaches
  • Updates in geochemical and entomological analysis
  • Interpretation of burned human remains
  • Discrimination of trauma from postmortem change
  • Taphonomic applications at the scene and in the lab

    This comprehensive text takes an interdisciplinary and international approach to understanding taphonomic modifications. Liberally illustrated with photographs, maps, and other images, Advances in Forensic Taphonomy: Method, Theory, and Archaeological Perspectives is a valuable source of information for postmortem death investigation.
  • Preface
    The Editors
    The Contributors
    Acknowledgments
    Multidisciplinary Forewords
    Foreword from Pathology, Donald Reay
    Foreword from Paleontology, R. Lee Lyman
    Foreword from Archaeology: A Pilgrim in Forensic Archaeology - A Personal View, J.R. Hunter
    Theoretical Perspectives
    Advancing Forensic Taphonomy: Purpose, Theory, and Practice, Editors
    Is Forensic Taphonomy Scientific? Jon Nordby
    The Biogeographic Context
    An Autopsy of the Grave: Recognizing, Collecting, and Preserving Forensic Goetaphonomic Evidence, Michael Hochrein
    Forensics, Archaeology, and Taphonomy: The Symbiotic Relationship, Julie Saul and Frank Saul
    Position of Skeletal Remains as a Key to Understanding Mortuary Behavior, Mirjana Roksandic
    Taphonomic and Forensic Aspects of Bog Bodies, Don Brothwell and Heather Gill-Robinson
    The Effect of Cultivation on Buried Human Remains, William D. Haglund, Melissa Connor, and Douglas Scott
    Detection and Recovery of Abducted and Murdered Children: Behavioral and Taphonomic Influences, Robert Morton and Wayne Lord
    Insects Associated with the Body: Their Use and Analysis, Gail Anderson and Valerie Cervenka
    Human Remains in Water Environments, William D. Haglund and Marcella H. Sorg
    Floating Remains on Pacific Northwest Waters, Curtis Ebbesmeyer and William Haglund
    Mass Fatalities and Mass Graves
    Recent Mass Graves, An Introduction, William D. Haglund
    Taphonomy of a Karstic Cave Execution Site at Hrgar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Tal Simmons
    Mass Graves and the Collection of Forensic Evidence: Genocide, War Crimes, and Crimes Against Humanity, Stefan Schmitt
    Postburial Disturbance of Graves in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mark Skinner, Heather York, and Melissa Connor
    Cannibalism or Violent Death Alone? Human Remains at a Small Anasazi Site, Sally Graver, Kristin Sobolik, and John Whittaker
    Damnum Fatale: The Taphonomic Fate of Human Remains in Mass Disasters, Paul Sledzik and William Rodriguez III
    Approaches to the Study of Commingling in Human Skeletal Biology, Douglas Ubelaker
    Modification of Bone, Soft Tissue, and Associated Materials
    Detecting the Postburial Fragmentation of Carpals, Tarsals, and Phalanges, Christyann Darwent and R. Lee Lyman
    Degradation of Clothing and Other Dress Materials Associated with Buried Bodies of Both Archaeological and Forensic Interest, R.C. Janaway
    Taphonomic Context of Sharp-Force Trauma in Suspected Cases of Human Mutilation and Dismemberment, Steven A. Symes et. alia
    A Critical Look at Methods for Recovering, Evaluating, and Interpreting Cremated Human Remains, Pamela Correia and Owen Beattie
    Recovery and Interpretation of the Fatal Fire Victim: The Role of Forensic Anthropology, Dennis Dirkmaat
    The Use of DNA in the Identification of Postmortem Remains, Michelle Harvey and Mary-Claire King
    Disarticulation Pattern and Tooth Mark Artifacts Associated with Pig Scavenging of Human Remains: A Case Study, Hugh Berryman
    Index

    Biography

    William D. Haglund, Marcella H. Sorg