Dr Karl Harrison
Lecturer in Forensic Archaeology
Location: Shrivenham campus
E: k.harrison@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1793 314522
Department of Engineering and Applied Science
Current activities
Karl Harrison's research interests include:
- Interface between the dynamic processes of structural fire and archaeological excavation and interpretation.
- Practice and interpretation within forensic excavation.
- The psychology of clandestine deposition.
- The archaeology of naval funerary practice.
Link to Dr Karl Harrison's Academia site
Clients
As a reporting Forensic Archaeologist Dr Harrison has worked for over twenty UK police forces.
Background
Dr Karl Harrison is currently employed as a Lecturer in Forensic Archaeology at Cranfield University, where he leads a range of modules looking at integration of scientific processes and concepts into operational forensic work. He was previously employed as the Lead Scientist within the Ecology Team of LGC Forensics, where he was responsible for reporting forensic archaeology with a national remit. He is one of a small number of Forensic Archaeologists practicing in the United Kingdom, having dealt with numerous high-profile murder cases. Dr Harrison is a registered Expert with the National Police Improvement Agency, a Professional Member of the Forensic Science Society, an Advisory Member in Detection and Recovery of the Specialist Working Group for Forensic Anthropology, and is a member of the Expert Panel of the Institution for Archaeology’s Forensic Archaeology Special Interest Group
Karl’s operational experience includes seven years’ experience as a Scenes of Crime Officer and Crime Scene Manager working with Wiltshire Constabulary and West Midlands Police, prior to taking up his appointment with LGC Forensics.
His research interests include the application of archaeological techniques to search and location operations, and the integration of techniques of fire investigation and archaeological excavation. His archaeological experience has taken him to Gosport (18th century naval cemetery) Italy (Roman city of Ostia), Turkey (Neolithic structural fires at Çatalhöyük) and Ascension Island (19th century quarantine graves).
Selected publications
Davenport, A. & Harrison, K. (Forthcoming). ‘Cats and Cradles: Memory and Marking of Infant and Domestic Animal Burials in the Forensic Archaeological Record’ In Mortality.
Harrison, K. (in press). ‘Application of Fire Investigation Techniques’. In Tipper, J, ed. Burning and excavation of the Farmer’s House, West Stow. English Heritage. Ch. 4.
Harrison, K. 2010. ‘British Overseas Territories’. In Fibiger, L. and Marquez-Grant, N. eds. Physical Anthropology and Legislation: European Perspectives and Beyond.
Harrison, K. 2009 ‘Oven Firing Experiments 2009’. Çatalhöyük Archive Report 2009.
Harrison, K. 2008 ‘An investigation into the relationships between the archaeology of burnt structures and fire science as employed in a forensic context’. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Reading
Harrison, K. 2008 ‘Fire and Burning at Çatalhöyük 2008’. 2008 Archive Report. Cambridge University.
Shortland, A.J., Masters, P., Harrison, K., Williams, A. & Boston, C. 2008 “Burials of Eighteenth Century Naval personnel: preliminary results from excavations at the Royal Hospital Haslar, Gosport (Hants)”. Antiquity, 82, 317.
Harrison, K. 2007. ‘Burnt Offerings: Saxon and Modern”. Interfaces, 49.
Cormell, E. & Harrison, K. 2006. ‘Digging In: Establishment of the Forensic Archaeology Service of West Midlands Police’ in Police Review.
Harrison, K. (2006) ‘Is Crime Scene Investigation a Science, and does it matter anyway?’ Science and Justice, 46 (2).
Harrison, K. (2004) “Fire at Çatalhöyük: Integrating Forensic Practise”. Çatalhöyük 2004 Archive, University of Cambridge
