Sequential Monitoring of Burials Containing Small Pig Cadavers Using Ground Penetrating Radar*
Funding for this project was provided through the generosity of the following: the 1999 Connective Tissue Research Award; a 2000–2001 Forensic Sciences Lucas Research Grant; a 2002 William R. Maples Memorial Scholarship for Graduate Research in Forensic Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, University of Florida; a 2003 John Goggin Dissertation Award, Department of Anthropology, University of Florida; and a 2003 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Threadgill Dissertation Fellowship, University of Florida.
Abstract
Abstract: Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) was used to monitor 12 pig burials in Florida, each of which contained a small pig cadaver. Six of the cadavers were buried in sand at a depth of 0.50–0.60 m, and the other six were buried in sand at a depth of 1.00–1.10 m to represent deep and shallow burials that are generally encountered in forensic scenarios. Four control excavations with no pig interment were also constructed as blank graves and monitored with GPR. The burials were monitored for durations of either 13 or 21 months, and were then excavated to correlate the decomposition state of the cadaver with the GPR imagery. Overall, this study demonstrated that it may be difficult to detect small cadavers buried in sand soon after they are skeletonized because the area surrounding the body, or the grave, may not provide a strong enough contrasting area to be detected by GPR when compared to that of the surrounding undisturbed soil. Also, depth of burial appears to influence grave detection because bodies that are buried at deeper depths may be detected for a longer period of time due to reduced decomposition rates.
