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1200 BCE
Prehistoric Investigation
Fingerprints by pressing hands and fingers to clay rocks -
700 BCE
700 B.C. to 44 B.C.
Chinese began to record thumb prints on clay sculpture. Documentation was in place. -
250 BCE
250 B.C.
Greek physician, Erasistratus, created the first lie detector test when he noted that his patients' pulse rate appeared to increase when they lied. -
44 BCE
44 B.C.
a Roman doctor examined Julius Caesar's body and discovered that of his 23 stab wounds, only one was fatal. -
1100
1100 A.D.
Roman attorney Quintilian proved that blood-covered palm prints were left at a crime scene to frame a blind man for the murder of his mother. -
1248
1248 A.D.
first documentation of medical knowledge aimed at solving crimes was recorded in the book "Hsi Duan Yu" (the Washing Away of Wrong). It detailed the process of distinguishing drowning from strangulation. -
1300
1300's
Crime Scene Investigation focused on using fingerprint detail and chemical elements to solve crimes. -
1800's
In 1813, Mathieu Bonaventure Orfila, who is considered the father of modern toxicology, published "Traite des Poisons" -
Mid 1800's
investigators at Scotland Yard began to conduct bullet comparisons and investigators developed successful tissue tests that identified arsenic as a means of murder. -
Late 1800's
forensic science expanded to include technologies like body temperature to determine time of death and the systematic use of fingerprinting for identification. -
1900's
The first portable polygraph machines were used. -
1900's
tests to detect gunshot residue were used -
Mid 1900's
voiceprint identification technologies, development of an acid phosphatase test for semen detection and early DNA analysis. -
1950-2000's
Rapid advancement in the 1950-2000's. Forensic Investigation built upon the early foundation and have expanded into computer forensics, DNA forensics, entomological (insect) forensics and enhanced biological studies