Excavation
In archaeology, the law of superposition states that as layers of soil accumulate, the deeper layers (and the items associated with these layers) are older than the ones encountered above them. The study of soil layers is called stratigraphy. Forensic Anthropology" href="/forensic/documentation.html">Burial pits disturb these strata (soil layers) and create a new, younger feature that now either cuts through or is located above the previously existing levels. If many years pass after the grave is dug, it is possible that a new (and still younger) layer will be naturally deposited over the burial pit. While this relationship may seem simple, it is a very important principle in Recovery Of Human Remains The Human Skeleton" href="/human-skeleton/archaeological-recovery-of-human-remains.html">archaeological excavation, regardless of whether it is in the prehistoric or forensic context.
Once a gravesite (or any type of recovery site with buried evidence) is located, it is of utmost importance that a great deal of time and care is put into the excavation. Excavation of a scene is a destructive process, meaning that you only have one chance to get it right. Thus, it is important that care is taken to preserve and recover
Figure 3.1 This example of a burial pit was discovered in September 2001 by removing the topsoil in a cabbage patch. This site was located near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea, a site of heavy fighting between U.S. and Chinese military forces during the Korean War in late 1950. The dark, cigar-shaped soil within the red dotted oval is the burial pit. It is surrounded by orange-colored soil (original soil color). This pit was approximately 3 x 15 feet (.9 x 4.5 m) in size and contained the skeletons of 12 servicemen.
Figure 3.1 This example of a burial pit was discovered in September 2001 by removing the topsoil in a cabbage patch. This site was located near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea, a site of heavy fighting between U.S. and Chinese military forces during the Korean War in late 1950. The dark, cigar-shaped soil within the red dotted oval is the burial pit. It is surrounded by orange-colored soil (original soil color). This pit was approximately 3 x 15 feet (.9 x 4.5 m) in size and contained the skeletons of 12 servicemen.
all relevant evidence from the scene. The excavation strategy will have to be tailored to fit the circumstances of the scene. For example, the recovery of human remains from a building collapse will obviously be handled differently than the recovery of a single body buried in the soil. In one scenario, it may be necessary to use heavy machinery in the excavation process; in the other scenario, it may be possible to excavate the entire scene with hand tools. Regardless of the context, once human remains are encountered, excavation should be completed entirely by hand and with the proper tools.
Use of the proper excavation tools around the body ensures that the bones are not accidentally damaged during excavation. The archaeologist's burial tool kit is not made up of high-tech gadgets. Excavation around the bones is generally completed with wooden implements (for example, sharpened chopsticks), garden trowels, and dental picks. Soil is removed from the bones using paint brushes and whisk brooms. The critical goals are (1) to expose the body for documentation of its orientation and relationship to any associated artifacts and (2) to carefully remove it from the ground without damage. Careless excavation may damage the bones in a manner that masks trauma that may be associated with cause of death. It is also possible that excavation damage could be misinterpreted as trauma (such as a stab wound) associated with the person's death. For this reason, most anthropologists prefer to use only wooden tools, as opposed to metal tools, when excavating in direct contact with bone.
During excavation, all soil that is removed from a burial pit is placed in buckets and subsequently "screened" on site. Screening the soil guarantees that small items, such as teeth or a bullet, that may escape notice during excavation will be discovered and retained as valuable evidence. The screening process is completed by placing all the soil into a box with wire mesh screen as the base. As the soil falls through the openings in the mesh, small items of evidence will be retained. The size of the wire mesh can be tailored to fit the excavation site, but 1/4-inch (6-millimeter) mesh is generally the standard.
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