NCJ Number
207228
Date Published
2004
Length
292 pages
Annotation
This book provides an introduction to the various methods used in the search for clandestine graves.
Abstract
Search techniques for human remains have come a long way since the days of shovels and backhoes. NecroSearch is a multidisciplinary organization that has revolutionized the way in which clandestine graves are searched for by law enforcement investigators. The protocol outlined in this book is followed by NecroSearch when assisting law enforcement agencies in locating human remains. Any search for a clandestine grave focuses on two main issues: (1) the capabilities of the perpetrator, and (2) the ways in which the act of burial disrupts the natural environment. Considering the potential behavior of the perpetrator, as well as their capabilities, will give investigators clues about where to look for buried remains. Every burial involves the disruption of the natural environment; techniques in this book illuminate the visual signs that a burial may have occurred, such as soil and vegetation disturbances. The methods presented are applicable to both archaeological and forensic situations and may be used for locating surface and buried bodies. Categories of methods discussed in the chapters are: non-intrusive pedestrian searches, surface-penetrating ground searches, geophysical prospecting techniques, remote-sensing methods, aerial photography and interpretation, and parapsychological techniques. The discussion of each method includes a consideration of their advantages and disadvantages, as well as possible applications of each method. Following the nine chapters of the book, the appendixes present a listing of planning data sources, geology and geophysics checklists, a Necrosearch clandestine grave questionnaire, a lost person report checklist, and a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Figures, appendixes, bibliography, index