Swinging the blue lamp: The forensic archaeology of contemporary child and animal burial in the UK

Abstract

This paper examines strategies of memorialisation in contemporary illicit infant and informal domestic animal burials as recorded by the activity of forensic archaeologists in the UK. The focus is upon case studies experienced by the authors during work as forensic archaeologists between 2004 and 2009. It is hoped that this discussion will shed light upon unofficial, and in many cases illegal, activity within the contemporary burial record while also forging stronger links between the currently divergent disciplines of forensic and contemporary/burial archaeology. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.