The use of the tattoo as an investigative tool at the crime scene.

The "Toki Route" is a public policy proposal through which a series of monumental landmarks will be installed across the northern Patagonian-Pampean territory of Argentina. These points marked on the map trace a cultural route in which meanings associated with the life and trajectory of Toki Kajfvkura (Juan Calfucurá) are propagated. This authority of the sovereign Mapuce people, prior to the so-called "Desert Campaign," condenses a wide spectrum of meanings.It is of interest here that within the framework of a policy of repatriation of human remains and historical reparation, in this case, the return of the skull of Kajfvkura, appropriated during the "Desert Campaign" from the Mapuce people, the "Toki Route" appears as a singular response. It challenges the state-sponsored heritage of indigenous remains and the trophy logic behind their appropriation, while also questioning the issue of the possible transformation of a political resolution that responds to the demands of various Mapuce communities into a tourist product, which leads us to investigate the commercial aspects associated with this route.

U.S. Army Mortuary Affairs (MA) soldiers collect, identify, and evacuate the remains of deceased personnel from the theater of war. They are exposed to violent death, human remains, information about the deceased, combat, and other dangerous environments, and deployment-related stressors. Understanding the predeployment health and history of trauma exposures is important to planning deployment and postdeployment health. This study examined predeployment traumatic exposures, mental health, and substance use in MA soldiers, including population characteristics, exposure to dead bodies and combat, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, suicidal ideation (SI), and alcohol and tobacco use. Participants were 968 MA soldiers preparing for deployment to the Middle East (mean age: 26.3, 69.9% male, 51.0% E4-E5 rank, 83.2% had not previously deployed to the Middle East). Data were collected from 2005 to 2019 from self-report questionnaires administered 1-2 weeks before deployment. Measures included the Combat Experiences Scale, PCL-17, PHQ-9, and the CAGE. Analyses included descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, and parametric and non-parametric tests to identify differences between not deployed and previously deployed soldiers. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Before deployment, 36.9% of MA soldiers reported one or more dead body exposures, and 28.0% had one or more combat exposures. A total of 7.8% had past-month PTSD, 6.7% had past-2-week major depression, and 7.2% endorsed past-2-week SI. Rates of PTSD and depression declined across time when examined in 5-year groups (2005-2009, 2010-2014, 2015-2019; PTSD: 10.8%, 6.7%, 4.3%, respectively; F(2, 910) = 4.83, P = .008; depression: 10.2%, 4.8%, 3.1%, respectively; F(2, 928) = 7.60, P < .001). Frequent alcohol use was reported by 5.7%, 12.6% had possible problematic alcohol use, and 13.5% reported high daily cigarette use. Previously deployed soldiers (vs. those not previously deployed) were more likely to report previous dead body exposures (deployed: 89.0%, not deployed 26.3%, χ2 = 228.35, P < .001), combat exposures (deployed: 84.7%, not deployed 16.5%, χ2 = 312.23, P < .001), and higher rates of PTSD (deployed: 12.4%, not deployed: 6.8%, χ2 = 5.52, P = .019), depression (deployed: 10.9%, not deployed: 5.8%, χ2 = 5.41, P = .020), SI (deployed: 12.9%, not deployed: 6.1%, χ2 = 9.00, P = .003), frequent alcohol use (deployed: 11.4%, not deployed: 4.6%, χ2 = 11.19, P < .001), possible problematic alcohol use (deployed: 18.1%, not deployed: 11.5%, χ2 = 5.00, P = .025), and high daily cigarette use (deployed: 20.4%, not deployed: 12.1%, χ2 = 7.72, P = .006). This study examined predeployment traumatic exposures, mental health, and substance use of MA soldiers during a 15-year period of war. The results provide a baseline of the characteristics of MA soldiers before deployment. The higher body and combat exposures, PTSD, depression, SI, and alcohol and tobacco use before deployment are possible risk factors for deployment and postdeployment mental health problems. Potentially targeted predeployment screening and offering of care to MA soldiers can address the needs of soldiers who have psychiatric issues before deployment. Future studies of MA soldiers should examine outcomes postdeployment considering these predeployment factors.

Geometric morphometric analysis of facial sexual dimorphism in a contemporary sample: An application to sex prediction of ancient human remains.

ABSTRACT Using collections of Ancient Egyptian human remains in Dutch museums as a case study in meaning-making, this article asks how kinship and agency are delineated at the edge cases of the ‘human’. By examining Ancient Egyptian remains through a more-than-human lens, webs of affect, embodiment, care and identification are drawn across the boundaries between life and death. Beginning with reconceptualisations of the Ancient Egyptian mummified body in Leiden’s seventeenth‑century Theatrum Anatomicum, this article follows the dispersals of Ancient Egyptian human remains between institutions. These racialised remains become a means of circumscribing or redefining normative ontological categories such as those between the living and dead, ancient and modern, Self and Other, human and non-human. ‘Object’ agencies emerge against popular appraisals of these hyper-visible, broadly exhibited bodies, which have come to be subsumed within heritage frameworks. Accordingly, these collections gain emergent properties as they traverse networks of meaning-making and belonging across geographic and taxonomic categories, within and beyond the Netherlands.

Advances in DNA technology have significantly enhanced the forensic community's ability to develop genetic profiles from unidentified human skeletal remains. However, sampling requires mechanical grinding of hard tissues before DNA isolation. This processing can compromise genetic profiles, particularly in aged bones. We compared the industry-standard pulverization method with an alternative powder-free preparation involving prolonged demineralization and subsequent slicing of 19th-century cortical bone. Data from DNA quantification, STR genotyping, and targeted SNP sequencing were used to evaluate powdered samples versus demineralized slices from paired human bones. Average human DNA yields for pulverized samples and demineralized slices were 0.032 ng and 0.692 ng, respectively. Demineralized slices recovered more amplifiable DNA than traditional homogenization methods (p < 0.05). No pulverized samples produced STR profiles, whereas demineralized slices from the same bone samples yielded partial profiles. Samples underwent DNA repair, library preparation, and hybridization capture using the FORensic Capture Enrichment (FORCE) panel. Applying low-coverage (1X) analysis of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data, demineralized slices outperformed those prepared by traditional pulverization methods (p < 0.05) and substantially increased the information recovered compared with conventional STR analysis methods. Based on HTS data from pulverized samples, DNA fragment length ranged from 27 to 95 bp, and FORCE SNP recovery was 33.23%. In contrast, for demineralized slices, DNA fragment length ranged from 85 to 114 bp, and FORCE SNP recovery was 83.24%. The required reagents and equipment are typically available in forensic labs, and the workflow outlined herein significantly increases the success of DNA recovery from challenging skeletal samples.

ABSTRACT Objects in museum collections have always evoked differing ideas of how museums should label, conserve, display and return objects, especially when human remains are at play. Discussions around these types of material culture are now heightened and often contentious as public opinion and museum staff are becoming increasingly aware of the afterlives of colonial practices in today’s world. This paper focuses on a set of ten wooden figures from the Raja Ampat Islands (Southwest Papua, Indonesia), collected in the 1920s, of which one sculpture’s head is a human skull. Named ‘the Raja Ampat Altar’ since their collecting, the figures have been on display in West Papua, the Netherlands, the UK and France and have seen the involvement of the Raja Ampat village communities, but also that of Dutch colonial administrators, missionaries, museum staff, museum visitors, Raja Ampat and Papuan communities in the diaspora, Polynesian museum advisors and artists. By tracing a century of narratives – from the 1920s to the 2020s – around the display and the naming of ancestral remains in so-called ‘World Museums’ that, from the nineteenth century onwards attempted to present culture in an organized way, the paper discusses the different historicities at play for the people implicated in viewing, naming, displaying or removing these Raja Ampat objects from display. This leads to the question: what is at stake in terms of people’s constructions of time and identity in relation to the ‘altar’?

Fire is a primary method of corpse destruction, complicating victim identification and the determination of cause and manner of death. This study focuses on the microscopic examination of fracture behavior in osteonal structures, referred to as osteonal damage analysis, to distinguish heat-induced fractures from perimortem and postmortem mechanical fractures. Thin sections of calcined bone were compared with perimortem and postmortem blunt trauma samples to investigate differences in the fracture behavior of osteonal structures. Statistical analysis using a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) revealed significant variations (p < 0.05) in fracture patterns. Fractures predominantly crossed osteons, either cutting through the Haversian canal or following the cement line. While significant differences in fracture profiles were found, no pattern was exclusive to any group, with all fracture patterns present across all groups in varying frequencies. Crucially, the findings related to the calcined group suggest, for the first time, that heat-induced longitudinal fractures can intersect the Haversian canals, challenging the longstanding belief that only transverse fractures cross osteons transversely. These findings underscore the complexity of differentiating heat-induced from mechanical fractures and highlight the need for further research. A deeper understanding of osteonal damage is crucial for advancing forensic analysis of burned remains.

This study aimed to explore the visceral and embodied experiences of body handlers, examining how the physical body registers, processes, and resists traumatic exposure. Utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, a secondary analysis was conducted on narratives from twenty Jewish male IDF reservists tasked with identifying and processing human remains following the October 7th attack. Drawing on Foucault’s metaphor of the mirror, the findings reveal a dialectical struggle between two somatic states: a “utopian” identification, where the self is pulled into the “there” of death through sensory contamination and the dissolution of boundaries, and a “heterotopic” resistance that asserts the “here” of life through mechanization, metabolic drives, and kinetic exertion. The results suggest that the body functions as a visceral archive of the event, mounting an existential assertion of vitality when cognitive defenses are overwhelmed. These findings underscore the necessity of somatic therapeutic interventions for individuals exposed to extreme corporeal horror.

This case report presents an updated interpretation of genetic and chronological data from human remains discovered in Bezdanjača Cave, a Bronze Age burial site located in the Lika region of Croatia. The cave contains a complex necropolis with at least 57 graves and up to 200 individuals, which indicates its use as a collective burial site during the Middle and Late Bronze Age. Based on ancient DNA analysis, 13 males were identified among 38 analyzed individuals, with the majority belonging to the Y-chromosome haplogroup R1b, commonly associated with Bronze Age populations. However, two individuals were assigned to haplogroup I2a1a (I-Y3120). The I2a lineage has deep roots in Europe, and its presence has been confirmed in prehistoric contexts in Croatia and the region. However, newly obtained radiocarbon dates from occipital bones reveal that at least one of the two I2a1a individuals from Bezdanjača Cave dates to the Early Modern period (1645-1950 calibrated CE), which indicates that the remains were deposited in the cave much later than previously assumed. At the same time, these new data do not contradict the possible presence of the I2a1a lineage in Bronze Age populations in this area, as Bronze Age I2a1a samples have been reported from other archaeological sites in Croatia and the wider region. These findings, presented here for the first time, highlight the risks of assuming chronological homogeneity based solely on archaeological context and demonstrate the necessity of direct radiocarbon dating when integrating archaeological and genetic data. An interdisciplinary approach and careful chronological verification in ancient DNA research are essential to avoid misinterpretations in broader population genetic studies.

The application of fungi in forensic investigations remains limited, particularly in cases involving dismembered human remains. In this study, we characterized the mycobiome of a decomposing human body and a detached upper limb recovered from different locations using culture-dependent methods. A total of 23 fungal species were identified across four culture media and three incubation temperatures, including 20 species from the body and ten from the upper limb. The dominant taxa included Yarrowia lipolytica, Yarrowia deformans, Mucor hiemalis, and Geotrichum candidum. Notably, seven species were shared between the body and the detached limb, indicating partially preserved fungal signatures despite environmental differences. These findings suggest that fungal community profiles may serve as a complementary tool for associating separated human body parts and for assessing postmortem relocation. Additionally, 11 fungal species were identified on human remains for the first time (Acaulium album, Acaulium caviariforme, Akanthomyces lecanii, Dialonectria ullevolea, Fusarium acuminatum, Fusarium falsibabinda, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium redolens, Fusarium sacchari, Linnemannia hyalina, and Penicillium clavigerum), expanding current knowledge of postmortem fungal colonization in temperate climates. KEY POINTS: • The regional postmortem mycobiome of a corpse and a severed upper limb • Shared fungal species suggest partial preservation of mycobiome signatures • Fungal profiles as potential indicators for the identification of dismembered body parts.

Large-scale analysis of DNA quantification metrics and SNP sequencing performance in unidentified human remains.

AimTo reconstruct the forensic identification process following the 1994 explosion at the Duboki Jarak military ammunition and explosive ordnance storage facility in Croatia and to evaluate the role of early PCR-based DNA typing in the identification of severely fragmented human remains under wartime conditions.MethodsA retrospective archival analysis was conducted using original forensic, judicial, and laboratory documentation generated after the explosion. We reviewed crime scene records, medico-legal documentation, forensic body diagrams, situational plans, judicial orders authorizing DNA testing, laboratory reports, and genotype summary tables. Archived laboratory records indicate that recovered tissue samples underwent PCR-based DNA typing using the GeneAmp PCR System 9600 with reverse hybridization assays targeting six loci (HLA-DQA1, LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8, and GC). The obtained profiles were compared with reference samples from the missing persons’ relatives.ResultsArchival documentation recorded 59 biological specimens recovered at the scene. Of the 48 samples submitted for laboratory examination, 33 were subjected to PCR-based DNA typing, and 20 yielded interpretable DNA profiles. Among the recovered remains, multilocus comparison documented five distinct genetic profiles. Comparison with 16 reference samples from 16 relatives representing six families enabled kinship-based attribution of remains to five victims. No compatible genotype was identified in one family, and one specimen was excluded from attribution due to mixed PCR signals consistent with contamination.ConclusionThe Duboki Jarak case represents one of the earliest documented applications of PCR-based DNA typing for victim identification in a mass-fatality event during active wartime conditions. DNA-supported identification was operationally implemented in Croatia in 1994, several years before molecular genetics was formally integrated into international disaster victim identification protocols.

Intentional dental modifications are valuable tools in human identification and profiling, helping to determine the cultural, ethnic, or regional origins of human remains. In the Hindu-Balinese tradition, a tooth-filing ceremony called Metatah, involving the six maxillary anterior teeth, is known. This study aimed to explore its prevalence and discuss the potential use in the analysis of dentition for human identification and profiling. An anonymous eleven-question e-survey (Google Forms, 2025) was conducted among Balinese individuals, and responses were quantitatively analysed using Microsoft Excel (2025, version 16.97.2, USA). Of the 55 participants, 49 (89.1%) reported having undergone the ritual. Among them, 28 (50.9%) stated that filing was performed until the incisal edges were smooth and the canines were reshaped to reduce sharpness. The reported reasons for the ritual included the elimination of Sad Ripu, the six enemies of the mind (60%), and as a rite of passage marking the transition from childhood to adulthood (25%). In 30 cases (54.5%), the ritual was performed by a sangging, a traditional Balinese ritual specialist. Most participants described the experience as not painful, while 26.5% reported moderate pain. This study confirms that Metatah in Bali yields characteristic dental modifications relevant to human identification and profiling. Incorporating knowledge of such practices alongside physiological and pathological tooth wear of anterior teeth enhances the accuracy of dental and anthropological assessments.

Benchmarking KinSNP®: A study on genetic relationship prediction for forensic applications.

Open dataset of femoral cross-sectional geometry across ontogeny, including high resolution CT-derived structural variables, estimated ages, and proteomic sex identification.

A dual-isotope approach to enhancing isotopic models for the identification of human remains in North Carolina, USA

The identification of unknown human remains is still dependent on the availability of comparison samples from potential leads and (in routine practice) the use of STR profiling. In cold cases, or cases where remains have been recovered long after death, establishing a list of leads is an added difficulty. The absence of external clues to the identity of the individual, or the initial failure of identification, imply that leads must be established using either the genetic data itself, or contextual clues. Moreover, kinship confirmation further than the 1st degree is unreliable using autosomal STR alone. The Forenseq Kintelligence kit by Qiagen (formerly Verogen) is presented as a solution to both problems, since it allows kinship comparisons of SNP profiles recovered from unknown degraded remains to the GEDmatch database (GEDmatch PRO tools), which can be used for forensic genetic genealogy. We applied the Kintelligence kit to two skeletonised bodies recovered from the battlefield of Verdun and a body that was buried alongside members of the French Résistance, executed by the Nazis in 1944. In all three cases, we obtained usable genotyping data, and the comparison with the GEDmatch database produced between 3 and 2000 + matches with our samples, all around 200 cM in genetic distance. Our efforts to use these matches as leads to identify these remains were limited by the lack of information provided by GEDmatch PRO, with aliases and email addresses (many obsolete) constituting the bulk of data. The few genealogies linked to matches being mostly anonymous for individuals born after 1920, we originally relied on contacting GEDmatch participants and parsing their responses, which we later learned was not an appropriate approach. After consulting with experienced genetic genealogists, we corrected our approach and are able to present the results and propose improvements to both the GEDmatch database and the process of genealogical investigation itself.

SummaryMedical museums are increasingly challenged to balance accessibility, educational effectiveness, and ethical responsibility, particularly when displaying human remains. Despite growing interest in digital museology, limited attention has been paid to its application in contexts involving culturally sensitive materials.This study presents a qualitative case study of the renovation of the Morgagni Museum of Human Anatomy (University of Padua), focusing on the integration of digital tools, including quick response codes, augmented reality (AR), and virtual itineraries. The project aimed to enhance accessibility and public engagement while preserving the scientific and ethical integrity of the collection. The results, based on observational data collected during guided visits and educational activities, indicate that hybrid interpretive strategies combining digital and traditional tools improve visitor engagement, support layered learning, and foster a more informed interaction with anatomical and pathological specimens. In particular, the use of AR and digital content was associated with increased student participation and enhanced observational skills. This case study demonstrates that digital technologies, when embedded within a coherent curatorial framework, can strengthen rather than diminish ethical engagement with human remains. The Morgagni Museum provides a model for the sustainable and responsible reinterpretation of historical medical collections in contemporary educational contexts.

Blow flies are early colonizers of human remains, allowing their developmental rates to be used to estimate postmortem interval (PMI). Accurate species identification is essential for PMI estimation, yet traditional methods can be subjective. Recently, the use of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) for more objective species identification has been demonstrated. These studies generally use multivariate statistical approaches to evaluate differences in CHC profiles among different species. Principal component analysis (PCA) is among the more common procedures used to evaluate these differences. However, PCA often requires data pretreatment steps to address inherent biological differences among specimens, which can result in the loss of meaningful biological trends. Further, few studies have developed the predictive classification models necessary for downstream PMI estimation. In this work, CHCs were extracted from adult females of seven blow fly species and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Profiles were initially evaluated with PCA and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). From PCA, six of the seven species were distinguished, but distinction was influenced heavily by abundance differences due to inherent variability among specimens. From NMDS, tighter species clusters were observed without the need for data pretreatment. Classification models were then developed using partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and random forest modeling. Both models demonstrated high classification success for cross validation (98.67% and 98.67%) and external validation (66.67% and 61.11%), although the random forest classifier had the advantage of requiring no data pretreatment. This work demonstrates successful species classification and highlights considerations for the statistical evaluation of CHC profiles.