Human Remains and Identity

Before even studying human remains, it may be necessary to search for them. This implies using the discipline of forensic archaeology in order to detect anomalies which may indicate a burial site and subsequently dig that particular site and recover possible remains. Methods commonly applied for searching are aerial photography, field walking, cadaver dogs, and geophysical techniques. Once the remains have been found, recovery must occur according to archaeological techniques—not with shovels and picks but with trowels and brushes. This is crucial in order to subsequently register and preserve every single bone so that all possible diagnoses may be correctly performed (identification, possible cause of death, and time since death) along with proper interpretation of trauma. In case of charred bodies, bone fragments are often fragile and sometimes need specific treatment. In case of discovery of human remains in urban contexts, for example during the excavation of buildings, an on-site assessment of the minimum number of individuals may already help to indicate whether the remains are of forensic interest or if they belong to an older burial contexts. Keywords: forensic anthropology; forensic archaeology; field walking; excavation; cadaver dogs; stratigraphy