Forensic Recovery of Human Remains: Archaeological Approaches

Forensic Recovery of Human Remains: Archaeological Approaches provides a comprehensive and updated guide to the search, recovery, documentation, and excavation of human remains in forensic contexts.

Recognizing that many crime scene and law enforcement personnel lack formal training in archaeological techniques and skeletal biology, this book equips readers with practical methods for processing scenes with skeletal remains and decomposing bodies, while documenting context. Coverage includes new case studies, expanded figures and tables, updated citations, and two new chapters. One chapter now focuses solely on taphonomic modifications, while the final chapter highlights how research has advanced forensic archaeology practice.

While complex scenarios such as mass burials or water recoveries should be handled by specialists, this book prepares readers to manage less complex cases, such as single burials and surface recoveries, competently. It also outlines how professionals can apply proper search and recovery techniques, ensuring that critical evidence is preserved and that forensic investigations are conducted with rigor and accuracy, from field to courtroom.

This third edition serves as an essential resource for undergraduates, graduate students, law enforcement and death scene personnel, forensic anthropology practitioners, and forensic archaeologists.

Dr. John J. Schultz is a Professor and Department Chair at the University of Kentucky and a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. He earned a B.A. in anthropology from SUNY at Stony Brook, an M.S. in human biology from the University of Indianapolis, and a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Florida. Formerly a Department Chair at the University of Central Florida, he conducted forensic anthropology casework for approximately 20 years at the local medical examiner’s office. His primary research interests include biological profile methods, and forensic archaeology methods that emphasize forensic scene reconstruction and search techniques.

Dr. Lana J. Williams is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Central Florida. She earned her M.A. from the University of Central Florida and Ph.D. in anthropology from The University of Western Ontario, where she received the Governor General’s Award for research. Dr. Williams specializes in biochemical analysis of human remains, mortuary and forensic archaeology, and human osteology. She has conducted fieldwork in Greece, Belize, Türkiye, and is currently the lead bioarchaeologist with two field projects in Egypt. She has over 20 years of experience in forensic archaeology casework assisting law enforcement in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada.

Dr. James T. Pokines is an Associate Professor in the Forensic Anthropology Program, Boston University School of Medicine. He received a B.A. degree in anthropology/archaeology from Cornell University, M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in anthropology from the University of Chicago, and A.B.F.A. Board certification. He is a former Board Member and Vice President of the A.B.F.A. and a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. He has over 25 years of experience as a Forensic Anthropologist and Forensic Archaeologist, including 12 years at the Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii. He is also the Forensic Anthropologist for Massachusetts.

Dr. Tosha L. Dupras is a Professor of Anthropology and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas Tech University. Dr. Dupras earned a B.A. in archaeology from Simon Fraser University, an M.Sc. in human biology from the University of Guelph, and a Ph.D. in anthropology from McMaster University. She specializes in bioarchaeology and is a member of the Dakhleh Oasis Project in Egypt and member of the Sai Island Archaeological Mission in Sudan. Dr. Dupras has also assisted local law enforcement with the search for, excavation, and analysis of human remains.

Dr. Sandra M. Wheeler is the Assistant Dean in the College of Sciences and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Wheeler earned an M.A. from the University of Central Florida and a Ph.D. in anthropology from The University of Western Ontario. She is a bioarchaeologist specializing in mortuary archaeology, juvenile osteology, and forensic archaeology. Dr. Wheeler has conducted fieldwork in Belize, Mexico, and Egypt. She has also assisted local law enforcement agencies with the search for and archaeological recovery of human remains in Florida and Ontario, Canada.