NCJ Number
49093
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 47 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 6-11
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO LOCATE OR REMOVE BURIED HUMAN REMAINS, THE APPLICATION OF ARCHEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES TO EXHUMATION CAN RESULT IN THE ACQUISITION OF OPTIMAL INFORMATION BY POLICE AND FORENSIC SCIENTISTS.
Abstract
THROUGH CAREFUL EXCAVATION GRAVESITES CAN BE LOCATED AND OUTLINED. BEFORE DIGGING, THE SURROUNDING AREA SHOULD BE CAREFULLY EXAMINED FOR ADDITIONAL ITEMS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN LOST DURING THE ORIGINAL DIGGING AND WHICH COULD PROVIDE EVIDENCE. IT IS A WISE PRACTICE TO PHOTOGRAPH THE SITE THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS PHASES OF EXCAVATION, USING IDENTIFICATION AND DIRECTION MARKED. A NUMBER/LETTER CODE SUCH AS THAT DEVISED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION CAN PROVIDE IMMEDIATE INFORMATION ON SITE LOCATION, BURIAL ORDER, DATE, AND EXCAVATOR. ONCE THE GRAVE HAS BEEN OUTLINED, THE ORIGINAL FILL DIRT SHOULD BE REMOVED. NO BONES OR ARTIFACTS SHOULD BE REMOVED UNTIL THE ENTIRE GRAVE IS EXPOSED TO FACILITATE A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE BURIAL. REMOVAL OF DIRT BY TROWEL AND PAINT BRUSH WILL REVEAL THE REMAINS IN THE POSITION IN WHICH THEY WERE ORIGINALLY PLACED. EXAMINATION OF REMAINS AND ARTIFACTS CAN REVEAL SUCH INFORMATION AS TIME OF YEAR OF BURIAL, INTERVENING DISTURBANCE OF THE GRAVESITE, OR THE PAST EXISTENCE OF ITEMS WHICH HAVE DECAYED BY TIME OF EXHUMATION. POSITION AND ORIENTATION OF THE BODY IN THE SITE SHOULD BE CAREFULLY MEASURED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BEFORE THE BONES ARE REMOVED. ALL BONES AND PIECES SHOULD BE REMOVED AND STORED IN SEVERAL BAGS FOR SKULL, LEGS, HAND, FOOT ETC. MARKED BAGS SHOULD THEN BE SECURELY PLACED IN A CARTON. WHERE PRELIMINARY EXCAVATION TO LOCATE A GRAVE SITE IN A LARGE AREA IS NECESSARY, AN ELEVATING SCRAPER OR PAN IS RECOMMENDED. IF A BACKHOE IS USED, BETTER RESULTS WILL BE OBTAINED WITH A TOOTHLESS BUCKET. WHEN USING A SCRAPER, FIVE OR SIX OBSERVERS WILL BE NEEDED TO SCRUTINIZE THE EXPOSED AREAS FOR INDICATIONS OF PREVIOUS DISTURBANCE TO THE SOIL. POSSIBLE INDICATORS OF A BURIAL SITE MAY INCLUDE A CLEAR LINE OF DEMARCATION BETWEEN DISTURBED AND UNDISTURBED SOIL, A CHANGE IN THE SOIL INDICATIVE OF AN INVERSION OF THE ORIGINAL TOPSOIL, OR COLOR DIFFERENCES RESULTING FROM THE GREATER DEPTH OF WATER SEEPAGE IN DISTURBED AS COMPARED TO UNDISTURBED SOIL. SLIGHT DEPRESSIONS OR ELEVATIONS, MOST EASILY SEEN AT EARLY MORNING OR LATE EVENING, MAY ALSO AID IN THE LOCATION OF BURIAL SITES. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATING THE TECHNIQUES DESCRIBED ARE PROVIDED. (JAP)