In the event of a plane crash, natural disaster or homicide, it happens that there isn’t much evidence left for the forensics to analyse. This is when Maria Maclennan, pioneer in forensic jewellery, comes in.
Originated from Scotland, Dr Maclennan first studied jewellery design before she started helping the Scottish police on local cases. Her knowledge of jewellery (metallurgy, marks and engravings, serial numbers…) prove itself invaluable and quite out of the ordinary compared to the regular forensic. Her expertise has been so helpful to the local forces that she now collaborates with the UK police, Interpol and private investigators alike.
Jewels are very resistent to extreme conditions and can carry skin cells and DNA, which makes them useful to find clues on the victims and possible culprits. With forensic jewellery, Maclennan has pioneered a brand new field of research and proved that if your dream job doesn’t exist, you can just create it.
(image : © Claire Maxwell for the FT)
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The Art Gazette 