Abstract
Natural burials are interments where a body is buried without embalming fluids or coffins. These burial grounds are ideal locations for retrospective multispectral analysis of non-conventional single burials as the age and location of each grave is documented. The detection of disturbed soil under the influence of human decomposition has been well-studied, but lacks the temporal component needed for characterising simulated clandestine burials. A critical gap in the literature is how these burials re-vegetate and to what extent soil profiles re-establish over years or decades. Multispectral drone data from three natural burial sites in southern U.K. are documented here, with trends in re-vegetation from bare soil to full recovery in graves as old as 2005. As with many burial detection techniques, environmental influence is a limiting variable to universal use of this method. However, we suggest a timeline over which single burial sites in this location reach detection limits and possible reasons for variations in these limits.
Highlights
As drone technology advanced, sensors previously relegated to satellites or aircraft became accessible at a much lower altitude, image resolution increased drastically [4,5], and single grave burials became the subject of research
This study focuses on multispectral data taken at three anonymised natural burial grounds in the UK with interments ranging from 2005–2021
Further work is needed in different climates, soils, seasons, and burial depths, as these are all critical variables in how human decomposition interacts with soil and influences vegetation growth
Summary
As early as 2002, a retrospective study of a mass grave in Guatemala was detected by the ASTER satellite using multispectral data at 15 m/pixel resolution [1]. Kalacska and Bell [2] simulated a Guatemalan mass grave using multiple larger-scale cattle burials (5 m × 5 m), which successfully identified against surrounding vegetation by airborne hyperspectral data at a resolution of 3–4 m/pixel. Single burials could only be detected using sensors mounted to aircraft, such as in Leblanc et al [3]. As drone ( known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or UAV’s) technology advanced, sensors previously relegated to satellites or aircraft became accessible at a much lower altitude, image resolution increased drastically [4,5], and single grave burials became the subject of research
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
