• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Forensic Archaeology

Module description

This module will introduce you to the way in which archaeologists are employed by law enforcement agencies to find and recover buried evidence. You will be introduced to key scientific approaches that are of common value to both traditional and forensic archaeology as well as techniques for the search, location, recovery and recording of buried forensic evidence.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim is to:

• Introduce you to the key scientific approaches and theories that are of common value to both traditional and forensic archaeology.
• Provide you with a good understanding of the techniques used to find, recover, record and interpret buried forensic evidence.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate knowledge and understand the basic principles and limitations behind locating buried evidence through field craft and patterns of offender behaviour
• 2. Recognise the role of the forensic archaeologist in the investigation of a major incident, from the crime scene to the court
• 3. Demonstrate knowledge of how to identify evidence types within the buried environment; understand sampling procedures and issues of contamination
• 4. Demonstrate understanding of the basic principles of archaeological excavation, recording and analysis
• 5. Demonstrate an awareness of the work undertaken by forensic archaeologists in criminal, humanitarian and mass disaster contexts, both nationally and internationally

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Show initiative in interpreting a variety of information forms
• 7. Demonstrate a familiarity with the literature base relevant to forensic archaeology
• 8. Have a competent overview of the use and acquisition of data
• 9. Demonstrate competence in summarising published work

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 10. Acquire a range of observational and analytical skills which are applicable in the wider world especially in the context of professional work

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• The role of the forensic archaeologist from crime scene to court
• The search for and detection of human remains
• The recovery and recording of human remains
• Forensic taphonomy
• Archaeological excavation methods
• Archaeological recording methods
• International legislation and admissibility regulations
• International criminal investigations
• Mass disaster operations

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Evis, L., 2016. Forensic Archaeology: The Application of Comparative Excavation Methods and Recording Systems. Oxford: Archaeopress Publishing. 
• Fibiger, L. and Ubelaker, D.H., 2016: Forensic Archaeology (Four Volumes). Oxford: Routledge.
• Groen, M.W.J., Marquez-Grant, N. and Janaway, R., 2015: Forensic Archaeology: A Global Perspective. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Gunn, A. 2019: Essential Forensic Biology. Third Edition. Chichester: Wiley.
• Hunter, J. and Cox, M., 2005: Forensic Archaeology: Advances in Theory and Practice. London: Routledge.
• Hunter, J., Roberts, C. and Martin, A., 1996: Studies in Crime: An Introduction to Forensic Archaeology. London: Batsford.
• Hunter, J. Simpson, B. and Colls, C.S., 2013: Forensic Approaches to Buried Remains. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Moran, K.S. and Gold, C.L., 2019: Forensic Archaeology: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Cham: Springer.
• Richards, M.P. and Britton, K., 2020: Archaeological Science: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11462

ELE contains lecture PowerPoint presentations, handouts and module details.

Key words search

Forensic, taphonomy, archaeology