Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Bone finds: a challenge to forensic science.

Melanie Ganswindt1, Edwin Ehrlich, Peter Klostermann

  • 1Institute of Legal Medicine, Free University Berlin, Hittorfstrasse 18, 14195 Berlin, Germany. melanie.ganswindt@medizin.fu-berlin.de

Legal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|August 26, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Forensic osteology challenges arose from Berlin construction excavations, revealing numerous human and animal remains. Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for accurate identification and dating of such historical forensic finds.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Deadly confusion of novel psychoactive substances: fatal outcome of ADB-BUTINACA mislabeled as 3',4'-methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinohexiophenone.

Forensic toxicology·2025
Same author

Degenerative inter-vertebral disc disease osteochondrosis intervertebralis in Europe: prevalence, geographic variation and radiological correlates in men and women aged 50 and over.

Rheumatology (Oxford, England)·2017
Same author

Atypical gunshot entry wound.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2012
Same author

Fatal spontaneous subdural bleeding due to neonatal giant cell hepatitis: a rare differential diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2011
Same author

Lethal pedestrian--passenger car collisions in Berlin. Changed injury patterns in two different time intervals.

Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2009
Same author

A series of hospital homicides.

Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2009

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Osteology
  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Odontology

Background:

  • Major construction in central Berlin (Potsdamer Platz, Lehrter Bahnhof) between 1993-2001 led to extensive excavations.
  • Excavations unearthed a significant quantity of skeletal remains, including long bones, skulls, and complete skeletons.
  • Many unearthed bones were identified as being of animal origin, complicating the forensic assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the challenges faced in forensic osteology when dealing with large-scale excavations.
  • To highlight the necessity of interdisciplinary cooperation in identifying and dating historical skeletal finds.
  • To document the findings from 176 forensic dental reports related to the construction site discoveries.

Main Methods:

  • Compilation and analysis of 176 forensic dental reports from 1993-2001.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of skeletal remains, including skulls, long bones, and complete skeletons.
  • Interdisciplinary consultation involving experts in odontology, anthropology, anatomy, radiology, and veterinary medicine.

    • Main Results:

    • The study identified a substantial number of human and animal skeletal remains during construction excavations.
    • No criminal investigations were initiated, indicating the finds were historical rather than recent forensic cases.
    • Accurate identification and dating of the remains required significant expertise and collaborative efforts.

    Conclusions:

    • Forensic osteology faces unique challenges when excavating large volumes of earth, potentially uncovering historical human and animal remains.
    • Establishing the origin and age of such finds necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, integrating various scientific and historical expertise.
    • The findings underscore the importance of collaboration between forensic specialists, veterinarians, and historians for comprehensive analysis.