CONTRIBUTIONS OF RADIOCARBON ANALYSIS IN HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS

In: Annals of anthropological practice: a publication of the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology, Band 38, Heft 1, S. 155-164

Abstract

Estimation of time since death represents an essential, but difficult component of the analysis of human remains in the context of human rights investigations. Although morphological indicators of postmortem change can be influenced by many variables, radiocarbon analysis has proven to represent a useful approach. Radiocarbon values clearly reveal if the remains are ancient (radioactive decay) or modern (more recent than 1950 A.D.). If the latter, analysis of the radiocarbon value of specific tissues in consideration of documented atmospheric bomb‐pulse values potentially can clarify both the birth date and death date. Frequently in human rights cases, it is important to establish if recovered remains relate to a particular death date or date range. In these cases, hypotheses can be formulated for testing with radiocarbon analysis.