The impact of archaeology on mental health and wellbeing on people, and how to manage it.
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 10/01/2024

As a Lead Forensic Anthropologist and Archaeologist with Alecto Forensics, Gaille Mackinnon has extensive experience in international investigations that encompass war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide and, within the UK, is involved in investigations of murder, suspicious death, disaster victim identification, and clandestine grave search and location.

The search, location, excavation and recovery of human remains can be a very emotive process in both forensic and archaeological contexts, particularly when violent death and traumatic injuries are evident upon the body(ies) of the deceased.

This paper will discuss how the identification and recovery of human remains may affect the archaeologist tasked with working on criminal investigations and archaeological projects, and consider how the risks to wellbeing and mental health of archaeologists in these contexts can be managed.


Gaille Mackinnon, Lead Forensic Anthropologist and Archaeologist, Alecto Forensics