Disaster archaeology
By: by Richard A. Gould.
Publisher: University of Utah Press
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Salt Lake City
Language: eng
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9780874808940
Subjects: Forensic anthropology; Archaeology; Disasters; Disaster victims -- Identification; Criminal investigation; Disasters -- Psychological aspects
Description: "Unlike traditional archaeology, which studies the human past and examines issues of scholarly and popular interest, disaster archaeology is about the aftermath of mass-fatality events and deals with urgent needs such as victim identification and scene investigation. In this context, archaeological skills are an instrument of recovery for the families and others affected by a disaster." "This methodology involves a humanitarian element that often motivates archaeologists to perform this emotionally difficult work, and it requires a commitment to scientifically controlled field recovery and documentation of human remains, personal effects, and other physical evidence. First-hand experiences are described from the World Trade Center, the Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island, and from Hurricane Katrina."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: Recognizing the victims; title: What is disaster archaeology?; title: Disaster archaeology on trial : forensic recovery efforts after 9/11; title: Rhode Island's ordeal by fire : disaster archaeology at the Station Nightclub fire scene; title: Ethnoarchaeology and the aftermath : the process of memorialization (with Randi Scott); title: Training and reality; title: Cannibalism in the prehistoric Southwest; title: Human-rights archaeology : lessons from Katyn and Vukovar; title: An underwater crime scene? The wreck of the North Carolina; title: The realities of the recent past; title: Appendix I: In their own words; title: Appendix II: Forensic archaeology recovery (FAR) volunteers participating in "The Station" fire scene recovery operation.