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Soil Lysimeter Excavation for Coupled Hydrological, Geochemical, and Microbiological Investigations

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Published on: September 11, 2016

Suspect burial excavation procedure: a cautionary tale.

Alastair Ruffell¹, Colm Donnelly, Naomi Carver

¹School of Geography, Archaeology & Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1NN Northern Ireland, UK. a.ruffell@qub.ac.uk

Forensic Science International

|December 17, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Rapid police evaluation of a suspected burial site in Northern Ireland using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and victim recovery dogs (VRD) was prompted by a subsiding grave report. The excavation revealed an engineering trial pit, not a burial, highlighting the importance of thorough intelligence and landscape evaluation in forensic archaeology.

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Area of Science:

Forensic Archaeology
Geophysical Survey
Search and Rescue Operations

Background:

A report of a subsiding 'grave' in Northern Ireland necessitated a rapid police investigation.
The site's remote location and time constraints limited initial intelligence gathering.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and victim recovery dogs (VRD) were employed for initial site assessment.

Observation:

An archaeological excavation was conducted over 24 hours.
The feature was characterized by vertical sides and steps dug into undisturbed clay.
No human remains (inhumation) were discovered within the excavation.
Subsequent research identified the feature as an engineering trial pit.

Findings:

The GPR signal was attributed to a water table and rocks.
Victim recovery dogs may have reacted to disturbed ground rather than human remains.
The investigation demonstrated the critical need for comprehensive landscape evaluation and intelligence in suspect burial investigations.

Implications:

This case underscores the potential for misinterpretation of geophysical and cadaver dog signals in forensic investigations.
It highlights the importance of robust intelligence gathering and site assessment prior to archaeological excavation.
Emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between law enforcement, archaeologists, and forensic specialists.