Book Title: Modern Forensic Tools and Devices: Trends in Criminal Investigation
Editors: Mr. Ravi Kumar, Ms. Nandini Katare, Don Caeiro, and Dr. Surbhi Girdhar
Chapter: 15
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59646/658/15
Author: Pallavi A Rao
Abstract
In scenarios involving mass fatalities, a comprehensive, multi-agency, and multidisciplinary approach is essential for the effective management of human remains from recovery to identification. Forensic anthropology, alongside forensic archaeology, has become indispensable in such contexts, offering specialized techniques for systematic search, recovery, and preliminary analysis of remains. This specialized expertise is particularly critical in complex incidents where body fragmentation and commingling are prevalent, demanding meticulous archaeological methods for proper documentation and preservation of evidence. The discipline of forensic anthropology plays a crucial role in disaster victim identification by providing expertise in locating, recovering, and analyzing human remains, even when they are fragmentary, burned, or buried. Moreover, forensic anthropologists are frequently involved in establishing biological profiles from skeletal remains, which, while not sufficient for definitive identification alone, are fundamental for narrowing down potential matches. Their contributions extend to the scientific establishment of identity through unique characteristics, especially when traditional methods like visual identification or fingerprints are compromised by injury or postmortem changes. The integration of anthropological principles with other forensic disciplines ensures a robust identification process, especially when dealing with the challenging circumstances presented by mass disaster events. This interdisciplinary approach is critical for minimizing the psychological impact on surviving families and expediting the overall recovery process. Despite the recognized value of forensic anthropology, misconceptions regarding its full utility in medicolegal settings persist (Crowder et al., 2016). This underscores the necessity for a more standardized methodological framework that integrates archaeological rigor with forensic anthropological techniques for human remains recovery and identification in both criminal investigations and mass disaster scenarios. This chapter aims to elucidate the pivotal role of forensic anthropology, including its subfields like forensic archaeology, forensic osteology, and forensic taphonomy, in mass disaster victim identification by detailing methodologies for scene processing, recovery, and subsequent skeletal analysis.