Forensic Methods: Excavation for the Archaeologist and Investigator [Hardcover]

Melissa A. Connor (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0759109362 | ISBN-13: 978-0759109360 | Publication Date: August 2, 2007 | Edition: 1

Forensic Methods is a practical guide to death scene investigation and excavation technique, i.e., investigation of outdoor crime scenes that may include human remains. It emphasizes the collection of forensic archaeological data in a manner acceptable not only to the professional archaeologist, but also according to evidence protocols that would be acceptable in U.S. and international jurisdictions. The large number of case examples and illustrations make it particularly useful to either the investigator who wishes to learn archaeological techniques or the archaeologist who wishes to become involved in forensic work. The book is designed for the growing number of classes in the subject, for senior undergraduates, graduate-level students, and practitioners in the field, in courses in Forensic Archaeology or Forensic Anthropology, or Crime Scene Investigation. To facilitate its use as a text, each chapter currently includes a summary, a set of glossary words found in the glossary in the rear of the book, and an annotated list of additional readings. The glossary is useful, as readers include both archaeologists unfamiliar with forensic terminology and law enforcement personnel unfamiliar with archaeological terms.

Editorial Reviews

Review

As an anthropology student -- turned contract archaeologist -- turned law enforcement officer, crime scene investigator, and instructor, I can appreciate Melissa Connor's Forensic Methods: Excavation for the Archaeologist and Criminal Investigator from a variety of perspectives. Its unique strength is the manner in which it introduces the archaeologist to criminal investigation and the law enforcement officer to archaeology -- critical, but often overlooked preludes which impact the processing of buried evidence scenes as well as the reconstruction of the events which created them . Readers ranging from anthropology students to seasoned criminal investigators will find this book a welcome resource toward understanding each other's perspectives of the crime scene environment. (Mike Hochrein )

About the Author

Melissa Connor is the director of the Forensic Science Program at Nebraska Wesleyan University where she teaches Forensic Archaeology and advises students in the Investigative Sciences. For 15 years she was an archaeologist for the U.S. National Park Service where she worked on projects at Grand Teton National Park and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. She worked with Physicians for Human Rights in exhumations in Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka. She also worked in Iraq with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Regime Crimes Liaison Office on mass grave exhumations.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Altamira Press; 1 edition (August 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759109362
• ISBN-13: 978-0759109360
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #579,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forensic Methods - Rare new material, December 5, 2007

By 

Forensic maven - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forensic Methods: Excavation for the Archaeologist and Investigator (Hardcover)

Forensic Methods is the first book for archaeologists and crime scene investigators to delve into how to exhume remains in legal cases. Dr. Connor does a great job of relating how archaeologists fit into a forensic or legal case. She not only defines the methods and best practices for forensic archaeology, she gives incredible case examples from her US and international work, ranging from Nebraska to Croatia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, and Iraq.
The book should be required reading for any archeaeologist who wants to become involved in crime scene work. Criminal investigators will profit from it by learning about the current best practices in archaeology and the capabilities that field can bring to crime scene reconstruction.
Many general readers and crime scene enthusiasts will find a good deal of interest in the volume as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great professor!!, June 7, 2009

By 

L. A. Vinsonhaler "Bishop's Mom" (Papillion, NE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forensic Methods: Excavation for the Archaeologist and Investigator (Hardcover)

Great introduction to forensic archaeology, reads easily enough to retain informtion & pictures accompany for examples. The author is an instructor @ Nebraska Wesleyan University & also the director of the school's Master's in Forensic Science Program. She's a great teacher & the book followed the course work...making it easy to learn & retain concepts.

5.0 out of 5 stars FA, April 1, 2009

By 

Italophile (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forensic Methods: Excavation for the Archaeologist and Investigator (Hardcover)

The book is useful,and fills a niche in that it is aimed at the investigator, but the quality of the photographs is poor (dark, difficult to see,etc).