'Forensic' Egyptologist ?

Phototoxin

I hope that this is the most appropriate forum for this. On channel 4 they were showing scans of a mummy. And there was a 'forensic Egyptologist' and I was a bit irked. How is egyptology related to court and legal practise?

Is it just the media bandying about the sexy forensic label onto anything? I mean I could be an undertaker, dealing with bodies, but it doesn't make me a 'forensic corpse reallocation technichan' I did holes and stick coffins in them ya know?

I mean I could be wrong. I know that some archaeologists looks for the cause of death but its not for legal purposes its for anthropological and historical purposes.

Tom Young

Merely in the analysis concepts used in Egyptology when related to Forensic science. Some of the concepts derived include analysis of food and other related body matter. Generally also linked to aetiology and pathogenesis.

Tom

Phototoxin

I realise that. But she's not a generic analytical scientist, it specifically siad 'forensic egyptologist' so how does egyptology apply to the legal services? I would genuinely like to know as I have a wee interest in egyptian things.

Bogger77

Phototoxin wrote: »

I hope that this is the most appropriate forum for this. On channel 4 they were showing scans of a mummy. And there was a 'forensic Egyptologist' and I was a bit irked. How is egyptology related to court and legal practise?

Is it just the media bandying about the sexy forensic label onto anything? I mean I could be an undertaker, dealing with bodies, but it doesn't make me a 'forensic corpse reallocation technichan' I did holes and stick coffins in them ya know?

I mean I could be wrong. I know that some archaeologists looks for the cause of death but its not for legal purposes its for anthropological and historical purposes.

Can I suggest that rather than being irked, you grab a new dictionary?

Forensic <ROLE> is quite common. It's used to suggest that the role involves more investigation of minute details, than would commonly be expected, and where evidence is examined and conclusions drawn.
Example:
Forensic Accountants: examine the records of a company when allegations of fraud/wrong doing, for example, are made, this will not be "court" appointed, and often the results of the investigations are never made public
Forensic Science is really the logical detailed study of why and how actions/reactions/events occured. It's been morphed into being only "CSI" related.
It's forensic scientists that examine a failed strut in a crashed aircraft to see why it failed.

Bogger77

Phototoxin wrote: »

I realise that. But she's not a generic analytical scientist, it specifically siad 'forensic egyptologist' so how does egyptology apply to the legal services?

Forensic != Legal

Jim_Are_Great

Oxford English Dictionary wrote:

forensic, a. and n.

Add: [B.] 2. ellipt. use of the adj. A forensic science department, laboratory, etc. colloq.

Don't see why this would bother anyone in the first place, though.

Phototoxin

Forensic != Legal

No it means for court same root as 'forum' if I understood my honours degree correctly.

Forensic accountants investigate things like fraud.. why because it may be a crime.

Forensic investigators might investigate a plane crash as it may be a crime.

But forensic egyptologists ? Why ? do the mummies come alive at night and try to eat us ?

pansoul

I know someone who studied something called "forensic something" and it had nothing to do with law, more the minute detail 'meaning' of forensic.

My expertise in the field of forensic egyptology is somewhat limited. Perhaps I could encourage the original poster to ring Channel 4 so as to get in touch with the programme makers and maybe find out a little more. And then of course to report back here, full of interesting knowledge, and enlighten us to on the dark-, mysterious-sounding world of forensic egyptology.

I'm serious btw.

pansoul

I got the latest National Geographic magazine in the post today. Imagine my excitement to discover the coverstory is something about Ancient Egypt! (though unfortunately I haven't had time to scour the article for references to "forensic Egyptology" just yet. )

Phototoxin

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