Human Skeletal Remains

Recovery
Seri Antropologi Forensik
Field Operation

Involving human remains:

• Locating
• Mapping
• Excavating
• Collecting

Planning the recovery process results in

gathering of the maximum amount of
data pertinent to the forensic scene.
Problem
Problem
Forensic Archaeology

Applying methods of archaeology

The purpose:
• properly investigate a recovery
scene – beginning  to the removal
 transport of the evidence from the
scene, and
• to maintain context and the chain of
custody for all evidentiary materials
recovered
Archaeological Principles:
• the processes – inherently and
unavoidably destructive
• collecting-removing remains and
evidence – altered the context and
losing the actual spatial relationship
• careful documentation and
preservation of the material and
contextual information
Four phases of archaeological
investigation:
• Phase I – systematic search (surface
survey)
• Phase II – evaluation of an area for
significance
• Phase III – recovery (excavation)
• Phase IV – interpretation and reporting
Locating

Searching for/finding the remains:

• single or multiple people,
• visible on surface or located
belowground, and
• an informants leads investigators or
a search must be instituted
Locating
Search plan:
• Unique
circumstances of the
search area – site
survey
• Human remains and
associated materials –
located and marked
Mapping
Steps:
1. Set up datum
point
2. Area
surrounding the
body marked
using a grid
square
3. Hand-drawn
map must be
made
Excavating

Following the methods of archaeology:

1. Dirt skimming – instruments must be
on hand
2. Only two people can work on a single
grave
3. Remains are uncovered: fully exposed,
mapped, and photographed
Excavating
Collecting
Remains:
• must be collected
and properly packed,
• should be placed in
a suitable container
(sealed and labeled)
• brought to a
laboratory for
further analysis
Collecting

Addition to written record:

• inventory of retrieved material –
official record;
• a log of person who handle the
evidence must be attached to
document

these two records use to maintain the

Source: Delta Bayu Murti Photo

chain of evidence/chain of custody