Preface: Mildred Trotter and the Boneyard of War
1. Introduction: Scope of Evidence
2. Faking It: Chemistry and Forgery
3. Atomic Evidence
4. A Question of Identity: From Bones to DNA Fingerprinting
5. Not-So-Cold Cases
6. Conclusion: Modern Forensics and Historical Revision
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Robert C. Williams is Vail Professor of History and Dean of Faculty Emeritus at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, and a founding board member of History Associates Incorporated.. He is the author of numerous books and articles in modern Russian, American, and European history, including The Historian's Toolbox, Klaus Fuchs: Atom Spy, and Ruling Russian Eurasia: Khans, Clans, and Tsars.
"There is a sense of mystery and discovery that courses its way
through the cases, helping to make the reading compelling. This is
a near-perfect little book to introduce students and teachers to
this relatively new and exciting field of forensic history; it
simplifies a complex subject without dumbing it down." —Teaching
History
"Williams provides an introduction to the field of forensic history
that is brief but substantial, clearly and engagingly written, and
therefore accessible to undergraduates at any level, not only as an
extension to Williams' widely used guide for history majors, The
Historian's Toolbox, but even for those students in the sciences
fulfilling general education requirements in introductory history
courses. ... The book is inviting and interesting enough for
students that instructors should recognize its potential to inspire
rich critical discussions." —World History Connected
"This book has the possibility of introducing students to new ways
to think about techniques that they already recognize from TV and
movies and to apply those means of analysis to broad historical
questions. From Ivan the Terrible to Osama bin Laden, the
possibilities for identification, analysis and interpretation of
interest to schools and the general public are vast and exciting."
—Jannelle Warren-Findley, Arizona State University
"Clio meets CSI. In this remarkable book Williams utilizes science
and modern technology in a forensic analysis of a wide range of
historical issues. The result is an entertaining, informative, and
provocative collection of short essays that should delight both
historians and scientists, while it raises the question of what
other insights into the past we can gain from the application of
this methodology." —Cary D. Wintz, Distinguished Professor of
History, Texas Southern University
"An excellent cross-disciplinary book for use in any entry level
history course or as a historical companion text to any upper level
forensic science course. A series of fascinating examples of how
forensic science has been used behind the scenes to answer
previously unanswered questions thereby giving historians a
different perspective on works of art, forgeries, relics, and even
historical figures and events." —Clara Tóth, Professor of Biology,
Forensic Science Program Co-Coordinator, St. Thomas Aquinas College
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