Recognising, Excavating & Recording Clandestine Graves

The aims of this course: 

1. To provide an awareness and overview of the techniques used by Forensic Archaeologist and Anthropologists to find, excavate and record clandestine graves
2. To give those in the police who deal with clandestine graves and other crime scenes the ability to understand what role  Forensic Archaeologists and Anthropologists have at a crime scene and how to use this to its full potential.

Course Modules:

• Narrowing the search area: use of aerial photographs, maps and intelligence
• Landscape Interpretation: recognising clandestine graves in the landscape, using changes in the vegetation and topography of the terrain to identify them
• Techniques used in the excavation of clandestine graves: use of mechanical excavators, hand excavation and excavation strategies
• Digital and manual recording of clandestine graves: GPS Survey, drawing plans, profiles and sections, establishing a baseline etc
• Awareness of soil sampling and entomology