Search and Recovery

Search and recovery

Advances in technology have provided many tools for the location and identification of human remains and when combined with traditional methods such as cadaver dogs, can prove highly successful (Sorg et al, 2000).
Aerial photography
Proven in the location of archaeological sites, aerial photography can be used in forensic cases. Typically photos will be taken from an airplane or helicopter and there is even computer software that will interpret the images in relation to the angle in which the photo was taken. With the increased number of public and privately owned satellites these can also be used for indentifying changes in the landscape over time and have successfully been used in the detection of mass graves in war crime investigations.

Geophysical survey

Geophysical survey methods are generally non intrusive and best used in combination with other search techniques.  The methods to be used will be selected by the forensic archaeologist according to the individual nature of a crime scene.  Appropriate equipment and methodologies should be employed in order to effectively interpret data and avoid missing a burial when it could have been detected.  Correct interpretation is key although eliminating areas to be searched with 100% confidence is not possible with geophysical survey and can be subjective.

Search of the local area

Once the main site has been located and at various stages of recovery, line searching and fingertip searching of the area should be carried out.  Metal detectors can be useful in detecting metal items such as personal effects and bullet casings. Sieving screens should be employed where necessary and the search process should be well documented throughout (Haglund and Sorg, 1997).

Cadaver dogs

Cadaver dogs are often employed by the police and are very powerful for the location and recovery of human remains when combined with other search methods. These dogs are scent dogs and will alert to the odour originating from cadavers, body parts or bodily fluids. They may be useful in this particular case since the dogs are sensitive to bodies in various states of decay including dry skeletonised remains and soil that has been stained with the fluids of a decomposing body (Sorg et al, 2000; Komar, 1999; Lasseter et al, 2003).
Air scent detection dogs are effective in cases involving extended post-mortem intervals however many variables such as weather and especially wind will affect the scent cone that a dog picks up on. Cool air temperature and a light breeze are ideal conditions for the dogs (Lasseter et al, 2003; Komar, 1999).
Properly trained cadaver dogs are efficient and reliable when implemented into search strategies. In forensic cases dog handler teams can search large areas quickly and meticulously (often with a greater degree of accuracy than human search methods), maximizing the recovery of human remains by reducing the time and manpower necessary for the search (Komar, 1999; Sorg et al, 2000).