RECOVERY PROCEDURES

• Jurisdiction: Australia

Overview ....................................................................................................... [35.118]

Surface recovery ........................................................................................... [35.120]

Burial recovery .............................................................................................. [35.130]

Fire scene recovery ...................................................................................... [35.140]

After recovery ................................................................................................ [35.150]

[35.118] Overview

It is important to remember that there is no single approach that will fit all recoveries. The approach will depend on the circumstances of the site. The following published articles contain recommended skeletal recovery procedures for surface, burial and fire scene locations: Morse, Dailey, Stoutamire and Duncan (1984); Wolf (1986); Bass and Birkby (1978); and Hunter, Roberts and Martin (1996); Cheetham and Hanson (2009). These techniques are summarised below.

[35.120] Surface recovery

(1) Establish site security.
(2) Photograph the general locality of the remains. Include a north arrow and scale.
(3) Establish the limits of the crime scene.
(4) Clear any vegetation (except trees) to 1 to 2 cm above the soil surface and remove loose surface debris. Sieve all soil using 2 or 3 mm screen/sieves.
(5) Establish a datum point and surface grid.
(6) Use a metal detector freely and

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