Sequential monitoring of burials containing small pig cadavers using ground penetrating radar

    Authors

    J. J. Schultz

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Forensic Sci.

    Keywords

    forensic science; ground-penetrating radar; forensic anthropology; forensic archaeology; pig cadavers; CLANDESTINE GRAVES; LAW-ENFORCEMENT; BURIED BODIES; ARCHAEOLOGY; VICTIMS; FLORIDA; SOIL; Medicine, Legal

    Abstract

    Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) was used to monitor 12 pig burials in Florida, each of which contained a small pig cadaver. Six of the cadavers were buried in sand at a depth of 0.50-0.60 m, and the other six were buried in sand at a depth of 1.00-1.10 m to represent deep and shallow burials that are generally encountered in forensic scenarios. Four control excavations with no pig interment were also constructed as blank graves and monitored with GPR. The burials were monitored for durations of either 13 or 21 months, and were then excavated to correlate the decomposition state of the cadaver with the GPR imagery. Overall, this study demonstrated that it may be difficult to detect small cadavers buried in sand soon after they are skeletonized because the area surrounding the body, or the grave, may not provide a strong enough contrasting area to be detected by GPR when compared to that of the surrounding undisturbed soil. Also, depth of burial appears to influence grave detection because bodies that are buried at deeper depths may be detected for a longer period of time due to reduced decomposition rates.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Forensic Sciences

    Volume

    53

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2008

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    279

    Last Page

    287

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000254305900003

    ISSN

    0022-1198

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