Recognition of cemetery remains in a forensic context

The purpose of this paper is to provide guidelines for the recognition of human remains from modem and historic cemeteries found in a forensic context. Three avenues of evidence may be pursued to confirm the origin of cemetery remains: context, condition of the body, and associated artifacts. This a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of forensic sciences Vol. 50; no. 1; p. 5
Main Author Rogers, Tracy L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.2005
Subjects
Autopsy
Bone and Bones
Burial - history
Cultural Characteristics
Forensic Anthropology - methods
Forensic Anthropology - standards
Guidelines as Topic
History, 19th Century
History, 20th Century
Humans
North America
Postmortem Changes
North America
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Summary:The purpose of this paper is to provide guidelines for the recognition of human remains from modem and historic cemeteries found in a forensic context. Three avenues of evidence may be pursued to confirm the origin of cemetery remains: context, condition of the body, and associated artifacts. This article outlines types of North American cemeteries, demonstrating how land use over time has resulted in many being closed, moved, or forgotten, leaving only the context to indicate their presence. The condition of human cemetery remains varies considerably depending on cultural practices and burial environment, but many exhibit combinations of the following traits: dried or embalmed tissue; erosion of bony pressure points; cortical bone flaking; and bone damage due to autopsy or embalming. Examples of artifact types useful in recognizing cemetery remains are also provided. Two cases from British Columbia, Canada are presented to demonstrate the diagnostic features of a disturbed cemetery burial.
ISSN:0022-1198
DOI:10.1520/JFS2003389