Archaeologists Join Police To Help Fight Crime

An anonymous reader writes "Forensic experts and archaeologists have teamed up in the UK to unearth secrets of the past in the fight to trap today's criminals. Scientists will be teaming up with archaeologists to exchange skills, experience and techniques in what is to be a pioneering partnership."

Cool...

[Sevn]

A new breed of super crime fighting archeaologists with buggywhips and leather hats. Now all they need is a cool theme song.

not the same thing

[mOoZik]

The "police" and "forensic experts" are not the same thing. The police help to maintin order, to protect, to serve, etc. Forensic experts work mainly in the laboratory and in the crime scene. It was just a bit misleading reading that the police and scientists are going to work together.

Re:not the same thing

[taphu]

The police help to maintin order, to protect, to serve, etc.

HAH!.. it is clear from this statement that you know nothing whatsoever about police.. :)

But really, despite their slogan, police are not leagaly obligated to protect or to serve anyone. In many places (like where I live) they are specifically discuraged from this sort of behavior. And dig this, they actually state the reason as: "our time is too valuable to deal with individuals, we need to be out catching criminals." Well, that's fine, but

Nothing new here

[lizardboy]

The local medical examiner here in my local town is an archaeologist with some major papers and discoveries under his belt. Plus he teaches archaology at the local comunnity college. He has been doing all of this for the last 15 years.

He is great. Really, he is.

[AtariAmarok]

" notice you didn't cite any of these major papers by this super-genius archeologist of yours"

He's found the Lost Ark, the Holy Grail, Thor's Hammer, and even the One Ring. But those dratted nazis, Belloc, and the customs officials keep confiscating the results of his explorations. You'll have to take our word on it.

Also, not only does this guy do field archaeology and teach at a community college, he also talks for an hour or so each night on the "Art Bell" show about the dangers of isotropic money whic

That's Some Detective Work Alright...

[ChickenAintDone]

Can anyone clue me in on how they get the finger prints from bodies that were buried from times as far back as the Roman Empire's rule?

Re:That's Some Detective Work Alright...

[mOoZik]

Not directly, but perhaps from objects they have touched, such as clay, make-up, and anything else which can maintain an impression over time.

Scientists will be teaming up with archaeologists

[MadocGwyn]

And what are archaeologists? Laymen?

Re:Scientists will be teaming up with archaeologis

[Muhammar]

Any outside technical people working with police are preferrable to the police' own experts: for being interested in geting their science right rather than getting their job done and over with - possibly by framing up the suspect.

Re:Scientists will be teaming up with archaeologis

[MadocGwyn]

I was refering to the fact the phraseing excluded them from being scientists, my understanding is that scientist is a HUGE blanket term used for tons of fields of which I consider archaeology one.

Big deal

[Anonymous Coward]

archaeologists have been used for the biggest serial murder case [www.cbc.ca] in Canadian history already. Over 70 women are believed to have been killed, probably by the man who's been charged with 15 of the deaths.

Why even dendrologists would help

[Muhammar]

Any outside technical people working with police are preferrable to the police' own experts: for being interested in geting their science right rather than getting their job done and over with -possibly by framing up the suspect.

Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Stolen Buick

[AtariAmarok]

Indiana Jones fought the Nazis, for crissakes. Compared to this, fighting common two-bit crooks is a cakewalk.

In return...

[YouHaveSnail]

...the archaeologists get PBA cards, yellow flashing lights for their vehicles, and all the jelly donuts they can eat!

movie setup

[OwlofCreamCheese]

doesn't this seem like a movie setup? something involveing releaseing a demon thats been sealed for 1000 years or something.

I dont get the point of this post....

[WonderGod]

"Forensic experts and archaeologists have teamed up in the UK to unearth secrets of the past in the fight to trap today's criminals."

Well the two degrees are pretty much the same. Forensic Experts are usually Forensic Anthropolgist...and Archeology is a Anthropological Degree also.

I don't see why this is so groundbreaking, Forensic Anthropologist have been teaming up with Archaeologist for years...Thats one of the jobs they can do if they decide not to work for law enforcement.

Or maybe I'm just missing

Re:I dont get the point of this post....

[AllenChristopher]

Many of the shows I see on the History Channel recently are instead about how forensic criminologists are helping archaeologists unearth the secrets of the past.

I think it's like announcing a "groundbreaking new partnership between masons and carpenters to build a cathedral of both stone AND wood." Yeah, they have some different techniques, but come on. It's obvious that a mason who becomes a carpenter will be more prepared than, say, a circus clown. It's obvious that his masonry training may help him inn

Short course in forensics & archaeology

[adoll]

.

Here is a university short course [www.mun.ca] offered by an archaeology dept on forensic investigation.

The School of Conservation Sciences at Bournemouth University offers highly successful postgraduate courses in Forensic Archaeology and Forensic and Biological Anthropology, as well as an undergraduate programme in Archaeology. The Forensic Archaeology course provides valuable expertise in the search, location and recovery of buried victims and materials, and shows how archaeological principles and methods may be