Forensic Recovery of Human Remains: Archaeological Approaches

253 Pages·2005·4.69 MB·English

by  Tosha L Dupras

FORENSIC RECOVERY
OF HUMAN REMAINS
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
APPROACHES
2982_C000.fm Page ii Saturday, January 2, 1904 5:42 AM
FORENSIC RECOVERY
OF HUMAN REMAINS
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
APPROACHES
TOSHA L. DUPRAS
JOHN J. SCHULTZ
SANDRA M. WHEELER
LANA J. WILLIAMS
Boca Raton London New York Singapore
A CRC title, part of the Taylor & Francis imprint, a member of the
Taylor & Francis Group, the academic division of T&F Informa plc.
2982_Discl.fm Page 1 Tuesday, July 5, 2005 11:15 AM
Published in 2006 by
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International Standard Book Number-10: 0-8493-2982-5 (Hardcover)
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Forensic recovery of human remains : archaeological approaches / Tosha L. Dupras … [et al.].
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8493-2982-5 (alk. paper)
1. Forensic anthropology. 2. Archaeology. 3. Human remains (Archaeology) 4. Criminal
investigation. I. Dupras, Tosha L.
GN69.8F695 2005
614'.17--dc22 2005043916
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Dedication
For my parents, Al and Neomee, and my brother Gene, who gave me the
power to dream and the fortitude to follow those dreams. And to Valerio,
for giving me unconditional love and support.
T.L.D
For Jana, every day is an adventure since you have been in my life.
J.J.S
For my mom, Michelina Wheeler, thanks for believing in us.
S.M.W
Also to Dr. Michael Spence for the many years of dedicated service to
the victims and families involved in Ontario Provincial Police
investigations.
L.J.W

Preface
Crime scenes involving human skeletal remains can be very complex scenes
to process. Unfortunately, standard training for many crime scene units and
law enforcement personnel typically does not include methods for search and
recovery of human remains. Many investigators receive their first training at
the time when human remains are found. Insufficient knowledge of archae-
ological techniques and skeletal biology can lead to crime scenes that are
improperly processed, and vital evidence can be destroyed or overlooked.
Certain skeletal elements may be missed because the individual performing
the recovery does not have a framework for identifying or locating remains.
Alternatively, individuals may be using search or excavation techniques that
are unsuitable for the recovery of human remains. This book is intended to
fill the need for an updated, comprehensive reference pertaining to, searching
for, recovering, and excavating human remains and associated evidence (for
example, botanical and entomological evidence) from forensic contexts.
The intended audience for this book is advanced undergraduates, graduate
students, law enforcement and death scene personnel, forensic anthropology
practitioners, and forensic archaeologists. In an ideal world, individuals with
expertise in forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology would be
present at every crime scene that involved the search for and recovery of
human remains. However, we recognize that it is not possible in every
situation for law enforcement agencies to call upon the expertise of a forensic
anthropologist, forensic archaeologist, entomologist, or botanist. Because of
this, our aim is to provide readers with information that will allow them to
understand and use proper search, excavation, and recovery techniques as
they apply to human remains.
This book describes techniques for use at less complicated scenes such
as single burials. More complicated scenes, such as multiple or mass burials,
water recoveries, or cremations, should be processed with the assistance of
experienced personnel. Chapter 1 differentiates between forensic archaeology
and forensic anthropology, and provides the reader with information on locating
these specialists. Chapter 2 provides descriptions of the equipment necessary
to conduct searches, recoveries, and excavations of human skeletal remains.
Chapter 3 includes detailed information on how to conduct a search for
skeletal remains deposited on the surface and for clandestine burials. Chapter
4 highlights different types of geophysical technologies that can be used for
forensic searches. Chapter 5 focuses on the procedures for collecting associ-
ated botanical and entomological evidence at the scene. Chapter 6 describes
various techniques for mapping and documenting the scene. Chapter 7
provides step-by-step instructions on how to excavate buried skeletal
remains. Chapter 8 presents a case study that illustrates various methods
discussed in the previous chapters, including: the search for a clandestine
burial using geophysical technologies, a cadaver dog, and visual methods;
excavation techniques; and scene documentation through detailed maps.
We also include two chapters on human and nonhuman skeletal biology
at the end of the book. The chapter on human osteology is not designed to
teach readers proficiency in human skeletal identification, but rather to assist
those readers without a background in osteology in understanding the ana-
tomical terminology used by medical examiners, coroners, forensic odontol-
ogists, and forensic anthropologists in their reports. This chapter can also
help the reader with creating scene maps in which bones are illustrated. The
chapter on nonhuman remains is included to demonstrate that nonhuman
bones can easily be mistaken for human bones and to reinforce why an
experienced osteologist should make the final determination. This chapter
also introduces forensic anthropology students to examples of nonhuman
bones that can be easily confused with human bones. These chapters should
not be used as a substitute for an expert. All skeletal remains, including those
suspected of being nonhuman, should be examined by an expert.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to extend our thanks to our anonymous reviewers
whose comments helped to make this a stronger book. We would also like
to thank Crime Scene Investigator Kelly Wood (Orange County Sheriff’s
Office) and Dr. Michael Spence (University of Western Ontario) for their
thoughtful suggestions and editorial comments. Special thanks also to the
Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Crime Scene Investigator John Mulligan
(Orange County Sheriff’s Office), and Gene Ralston (Ralston and Associates)
for allowing us to use their images.