Projects

Soilwater conductivity analysis to date clandestine graves of homicide victims

Accurate determination of the time since burial is critical for forensic investigators to link suspects to a crime or eliminate them from it.  Currently, detection rates worldwide are low using a variety of search methods, ranging from simple ground probing and use of scent-trained search dogs, to more advanced remote imagery analysis and near-surface geophysics techniques.

This ongoing collaborative project is undertaking long-term geoscience monitoring (6+ years) of simulated clandestine graves, specifically measuring conductivity of grave-soil decomposition fluids that could be used to detect the presence of a buried cadaver.  Measurements could also determine the post-burial interval.

Results will be corrected for site temperatures and rainfall to allow generic models of fluid conductivity as a function of time to be generated, facilitating predictions of grave location and time since burial.  Multiple sites will allow the effect of the local depositional environment, soil type etc. to be quantified. Preliminary results have been published (see link) and a paper detailing longer term results has currently just (2013) been submitted to the Journal of Forensic Sciences.

The group is always looking for others to collaborate with and we would seek others to replicate this experiment in different conditions. Please contact Jamie Pringle for further information.


Collaborative geophysical research for optimal detection of unmarked burials in graveyards and cemeteries

This project aims to better understand which near-surface geophysical technique is optimal in different soil types and burial ages to detect unmarked burials. The group are doing this by surveying known graves with known occupancies and burial dates in order to compile a database.  They are currently looking for collaborators/student projects to collect such data. Please contact Jamie Pringle for further information.



Here are posters of BRC members' research:

Witt, I. (2015) The Feasibility of a UK Taphonomy Facility.

Pringle, J. et al. (2014) Geophysical monitoring of simulated clandestine graves using electrical and ground-penetrating radar methods: 4-6 years. 

No comments:

Post a Comment