Detecting Buried Bodies using Near-Surface Geophysical Instruments

Kathryn Powell

doi:10.1071/ASEG2003ab133

ISSN: 2202-0586
E-ISSN:

oa Detecting Buried Bodies using Near-Surface Geophysical Instruments
Authors Kathryn Powell^a
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^a Department of Anatomical Sciences University of Adelaide, [email protected]
Publisher: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Source: ASEG Extended Abstracts, Volume 2003, Issue ASEG2003 - 16th Geophysical Conference, Aug 2003, p. 1 - 4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/ASEG2003ab133
- Published online: 01 Aug 2003

Abstract

Remote sensing instruments have increasingly been applied to assist police locate buried murder victims, particularly during the last ten years. For the forensic investigator it is still a problem to identify the exact location of buried human skeletal remains within a large targeted search area. This presentation describes unique Australian research in forensic anthropology that is currently examining the application and effectiveness of geophysical instruments for the detection of buried skeletal remains.

Three aspects of the research are covered in this discussion: a national survey of Australian police jurisdictions conducted to establish how clandestine graves are located and the extent of the application of geophysical instruments in forensic case situations; the controlled experimental gravesites used to test the effectiveness of selected geophysical instruments representative of forensic case scenarios; and a situation in which resistivity was successfully applied to the detection of a 150 year old burial.

The national survey of police investigation section reveals that no reported locations of bodies have used geophysical instruments. This research will have significant impact on being able to provide data on reliable techniques for criminal investigations.

The experimental gravesites contain kangaroos, pigs and cadavers, and on the animal graves, ground penetrating radar and electromagnetic induction have presented positive results in locating the burials. This is the only known international research in this field that involves the burial of cadavers and presents a unique opportunity to establish a base of working field knowledge.

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2026-01-15

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References

Bevan, B.W., 1991, The Search for Graves, Geophysics, 56(9), 1310-1319.
Davenport, G.C., 2001, Remote Sensing Applications in Forensic Investigations: Historical Archaeology, 35(1), 87-100.
Davis, J.L., J.A. Heginbottom, A.P. Anman, R.S. Daniels, B.P. Berdal, T. Bergan, K.E. Duncan, P.K. Lewin, J.S. Oxford, N. Roberts, J.J. Skehel, C.R. Smith, 2000, Ground Penetrating Radar Surveys to Locate 1918 Spanish Flu Victims in Permafrost: Journal of Forensic Sciences, 45(1), 68-76.
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Lindemann, J.W., 2000, Forensic Geology: The Example of Professional contribution to Necrosearch International: The Professional Geologist, 37(9), 4-7.
Kanable, R., 2000, Earth's Clues: Outside Experts and Geophysical Techniques Help Locate Clandestine Gravesites: Law Enforcement Technology, 27, (4), 40-44.
McManamon, F.P., 1984, Discovering Sites Unseen: In Schiffer, M.B., (ed.), Advances in Archaeological Method and Theory,.New York: Academic Press, Inc., 223-292.
Miller, P.S., 1996, "Disturbances in the Soil: Finding Buried Bodies and Other Evidence Using Ground Penetrating Radar: Journal of Forensic Sciences, 41(4), 648-652.
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Article Type: Research Article

Keyword(s): clandestine graves; forensic anthropology; human remains; remote sensing

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