Archaeology and Anthropology

Forensic Archaeology

Manlove Forensics is delighted to welcome Professor John Hunter and his team of forensic archaeologists into our Ecology team. Professor Hunter has been working on forensic archaeology cases, for both prosecution and defence, in Britain and Europe for over 20 years. With him and his team we now provide a service of unrivalled resilience and expertise to Police and courts across the UK. 

Forensic archaeology is concerned with the location, recovery and interpretation of buried evidence, mostly human remains, and associated items that may be within the grave, as well as buried stolen goods, firearms, drugs etc. Operations commonly involve searching for the clandestine burials of missing persons, the interpretation of human remains accidentally found during building operations, skeletal fragments discovered on the surface, or alleged grave sites and ground disturbances requiring investigation. The team also has a wide range of contacts for the rapid access of cadaver dogs and geophysical survey techniques and will be pleased to assist at an early stage in designing search strategies for missing persons.

The first step
For all situations telephone advice is given at first hand and without charge. Field response can be immediate, according to scenario. Skeletal remains can be verified as human or animal by emailing good quality scale images to our anthropologists (bones@dundee.ac.uk) for an experienced evaluation. In all situations it is important for maximum evidence to be retained, that any ‘finds' need to be left in situ.

A forensic archaeologist can assist in:

•Design and operational support in locating clandestine graves or buried materials

•Excavation of human remains

•Linking buried human remains with an offender

•Interpreting the significance of accidentally discovered buried or surface human remains

•Dating discovered human remains

•Formal Home Office exhumation procedures

•Cold case reviews for ‘no body' cases

New service

Manlove Forensics now offers an in-house sieving service for archaeologically recovered buried soils. This includes both wet and dry sieving facilities under controlled conditions, and flotation, for the retrieval of microscopic buried evidence, including fibres.

Forensic scientists experienced within the discipline of forensic archaeology provide a key service in locating clandestine graves or buried materials, as well as undertaking the excavation and recovery of human remains. The forensic archaeologist will support search strategies, identify appropriate resources and techniques, and integrate closely with POLSAs and crime scene personnel in order to maximise recovered evidence. 

The skills of forensic archaeology are essential in interpreting the significance of human remains encountered during building construction or similar operations, or where scattered surface remains are encountered. Forensic archaeologists are now frequently deployed in formal exhumations, and their wide skill base often has an important role to play in cold case reviews of missing persons. 

At Manlove Forensics we have the UK's most experienced forensic archaeologists working with us to provide you with the highest quality service.

Forensic Anthropology

The forensic anthropologist is concerned with establishing identity, both in the living and the dead. They are often called upon in regards to the identification of human remains and determine the possible sex, stature, race, age and any skeletal injuries that could assist in the identification of the individual(s) under examination. Forensic anthropologists also determine whether remains are animal or human.

Information can be collated either by studying the remains directly or by the use of imaging including X-ray and CT (that also permit the bones of the living to be examined).

Manlove Forensics is delighted to work with several of the UK's most eminent and experienced experts within the discipline of forensic anthropology.

Tel: 0845 371 2486