Exploring non-invasive approaches to assist in the detection of clandestine human burials: developing a way forward

Abstract

The analyses of physical evidence recovered from clandestine single and mass graves have been demonstrated to be of significant evidential and/or investigative value for both court purposes and humanitarian investigations. The detection of these types of graves is, therefore, pivotal to forensic investigations. This article reviews different remote and ground-based methods that have been used to attempt to detect deliberately concealed burial sites and summarizes the experimental research that has, to date, been undertaken in order to improve grave detection. The article then presents the preliminary findings of research being undertaken at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER). This research, the first of its kind to be undertaken in the southern hemisphere, is based on experimental single and mass graves using human cadavers. The research is centred on current remote sensing methods and techniques combined with the analysis of the effects of below-ground temperature and moisture and ground-based weather data. It is hoped that identifying successful sensors and detectors will be beneficial to national and international agencies that are involved in forensic as well as humanitarian investigations that require the detection of deliberately concealed gravesites.

KEYWORDS:

• Forensic science
• forensic anthropology
• clandestine graves
• mass graves
• burial
• detection
• remote sensing

View correction statement:

Correction

Acknowledgments

The authors respectively acknowledge the donors and their families without whom this research would not be possible. In addition, the following individuals and organizations have greatly contributed to the research.

University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)

• Professor Shari Forbes (Former Director, AFTER)

• Mohammed Shareef (Body Donation Coordinator)

• Maiken Ueland (Research Associate)

• Prisca Ng (Assistant)

Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM)

• Support for research at AFTER

Department of Forensic Medicine, Sydney

• Facilitation of the post-mortem CT scans

Imagery & Geomatics, Australia Federal Police (AFP)

• Ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey and 3D laser scanning survey

NSW Police

• Gunshot residue (GSR) and mobile phones

NSW Health

• Alison Sears (Senior Forensic Biologist - DNA collection)

University of Canberra

• Dr. Jurian Hoogewerff & students (time-lapse camera)

• Dr. James Robertson (clothing)

University of Wollongong

• Professor James Wallman (entomology)

• Dr. Mike Morley & student (soil assessment)

OnSet

• Donation of temperature logger

Compliance of ethical standards

Ethics approval to undertake this research was provided by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – UTS HREC Approval number ETH15-0029.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

The authors are grateful to the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Centre for funding provided to support the LiDAR surveys.

Notes

1 It is important to note that there is evidence of bodies being laid out in neat rows in the First World War Holocaust graves. The documented reasons for this relate to the perpetrator’s belief that chaotic burial was an inefficient use of burial space. For example, Schutzstaffel (SS) General Friedrich Jeckeln told a colleague at one of the killing sites in the western Ukraine, “Today we'll stack them like sardines”. This procedure involved victims climbing into the grave and laying down on the bottom. They were then shot. More victims were then made to lie on top of the dead [18].

2 The excavation phase of the project will be used to aid several disciplines that may be applicable for crime scene and humanitarian-based recoveries. These include: forensic archaeology (e.g. mapping and locating gravesites); forensic anthropology (including recovery and analysis of commingled remains), and identification through fingerprints, DNA or clothing where the preservation of skin, DNA, bone, teeth, and finger/toenails, as well as different clothing materials will be assessed. The preservation of other potentially valuable forensic evidence will also be evaluated, including hair, gunshot residue (GSR); and digital information (which will be assessed using specially adapted mobile phones which have been placed in close proximity to the remains). Soil chemistry and its effects on vegetation, stable isotopes and dentition will also be examined.