At the beginning …. The focus was on collecting bodies, missing evidence of circumstances of death ….

Forensic Archaeology Forensic tool in the study of mass killings Applied to collection and interpretation of evidence ROBUST evidence, meaning evidence collected using sound scientific and legal principles (i.e. chain of custody, record keeping) Allows the ICC and other courts to have access to safe and reliable forensic evidence related to the circumstances surrounding mass or illegal killings.

Forensic Archaeology Two levels: Applied archaeological methods Applied forensic protocols

Forensic Archaeology Archaeologist will recover evidence that will allow the interpretation and reconstruction of a sequence of events through time. (Usually through time). Applied to forensic scenes it is usually a “time capsule” = a single physical episode,

Forensic Archaeology Ex. Mass murder: will strife to link the evidence to persons, other events and locations: We have to think that these sites are usually part of a much wider pattern of evidence and contextual association. (detention site - kill site – interment site)

Forensic Archaeology Finally it will link: -victim -scene -perpetrator

Forensic Archaeology Mind you The same evidential control is imperative for humanitarian recovery and secure identification of the deceased Look:

Forensic Archaeology Basic differences: Scale: size, Depth Original methods of digging the grave Large numbers of individuals per gave (creating anaerobic environments = adipocere)

Forensic Archaeology Lack to take into account all these different elements (size, logistical organization etc.) contexts of evidence, evidence it self and human remains can be lost, damage or destroyed.

Forensic Archaeology (Haglund 2001) Contributions: Methodologies of excavation (depositional relationships) Documentation of contexts (depositional rel.) Soil features and stratigraphy Conservation of grave goods Taphonomy Faunal analysis ????????????????????

Forensic Archaeology (Haglund 2001) “… having a policeman excavate a skeleton … was a bit like having a chimpanzee performed a heart transplant …” (Snow 1995)

Forensic Archaeology (Haglund 2001) Working with medico-legal context: Testifying in court Chain of custodies Information flow (to the media, “in situ”, hold back info) Point of view of the police investigator (i.e. local commission in Bosnia: THREE MONTHS!!!!!!!!!) Mental Issues (soft tissue …. Boiling for defleshing)

Forensic Archaeology (Haglund 2001) Honduras: Exacting exposure and delineation of individuals (agent of burial) Complete recovery and attribution of skeletal elements of individuals (agent of commingling) Recovery and documentation of association of bullets and bullet frags. Sequence of entry of victims into grave Circumstances of burial

Documentation at Crime Scene (Domestic crime scene) Photography Videotape Scene Diagrams Triangulation Notes

The crime Scene Diagrams / Mapping Simple drawing indicating position of the body in relation to other relevant items in crime scene (careful notes on measurements and distances). It is NOT replaced by photography. If the sketch / map is smoothed or finished at the office the original sketch should NOT EVER be altered, changed, or otherwise tampered with, after the person who draw it was completed at the scene: THE ORIGINAL MAP IS EVIDENCE! There should never be inconsistencies or discrepancies between original and prepared copies for court