Grave Concerns: Locating and Unearthing Human Bodies

Dr Kathryn Powell

Anthropology Forensic Research



"Truly universal in application, the descriptions and information also provide the reader with the basis for an excellent comparative analysis for their specific environments."
- Mark Gleason, Appalachian Professional Tracking Group, Virginia, USA


Constructing graves is a uniquely human activity. When the grave is hidden it is most likely done so to conceal a murder or the wrongful disposal of a body. Finding these buried bodies is vital for both a successful legal prosecution as well as the emotional closure required for family and friends of the victim. This unique text provides a compact reference for those who find themselves called upon to search for missing persons who have met a tragic fate. Other readers will find a greater understanding of the science and culture that lies behind clandestine graves, so often a key component of both real life and fiction. Hidden bodies deserve to be found and this book outlines techniques that increase the likelihood of success with professional patience, persistence and a knowledge-based approach.

About the Author

Dr Kathryn Powell obtained her PhD from the University of Adelaide in 2006 after pioneering work at Australia's first "body farm" designed to research detection of hidden graves in Australia's unique dry and uncompacted soil. She currently works as a consultant forensic anthropologist on both hidden graves as well as the anthropology of Aboriginal sites of significance.

Reviews

A fascinating and informative read, with universal appeal and application throughout the forensic and archaeological world. It will be appreciated by all people interested in the forensic investigation of persons missing due to suspected foul play. - Walter B. Wood, Associate Professor of Human Anatomy & Forensic Anthropology at Bond University

This work has important implications for the understanding of causes and effects of clandestine burials anywhere in the world - social conditions determining choice of grave location, its excavation, body placement and backfilling, general ecological phenomena surrounding decay of human bodies in shallow graves. The description of methods that can be used in the search for hidden human remains is of universal significance. - Maciej Henneberg, Wood Jones Professor of Anthropological and Comparative Anatomy, University of Adelaide

Grave Concerns is an important work for those who search for the clandestine graves of victims of crime. This very well written book is visually descriptive, comprehensive, and concise. Dr. Powell's research into the surface indicators of clandestine graves, and their changes over time, provides much needed information in an under-studied area. Truly universal in application, the descriptions and information also provide the reader with the basis for an excellent comparative analysis for their specific environments. Combining thorough research and personal experience Dr. Powell places the clandestine grave in much broader, and often forgotten, contexts. Her discussions regarding the grave as an active ecosystem, various anthropological issues, and emotional context provide the reader with a much deeper understanding of the impact of clandestine graves both socially and environmentally. Dr. Powell's reality-based recommendations regarding the phases of field searches should be required reading for the search manager and field team leader. Dr. Powell has been generous to those of us tasked with finding clandestine graves, providing insight, information, and responding to numerous questions over the last several years. I am happy to see that her scientific and knowledge-based approach is now available for a broader audience. This is an area that requires further study, and we can only hope that she continues to publish her research and experiences.
Mark Gleason, Appalachian Professional Tracking Group, Virginia, USA 

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgements
  • Figures and tables
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Locating Burial Victims through Science
  • 3. Grave Surfaces
  • 4. What Lies Beneath: the Buried Body within the Grave
  • 5. Police Techniques to Locate Buried Bodies
  • 6. A Grave Research Site
  • 7. The Burial of Bodies in Cultural Terms
  • 8. Constructing a Search for a Clandestine Grave
  • 9. Conclusion
  • Glossary of terms
  • References