Reading:: Identifying Cemetery Remains in Greece

Guidelines for the Recognition of Cemetery Remains in Greece

By Constantine Eliopoulos, PhD, Konstantinos Moraitis, PhD,Þ Federico Reyes, PhD, Chara  Spiliopoulou, MD, PhD, & Sotiris Manolis, PhD

As the authors state in the beginning of this article one of their main ideas behind this publication is to help conserve time and investigative resources by helping forensic anthropologists identify cemetery remains as early as possible, thus eliminating the need for unnecessary forensic investigation. All archaeological burials are not always obviously identified as such due to decomposition of the bodies along with any associated coffins or grave goods. Previous studies done in North America show that embalming is and has been a widespread tradition for cemetery burials; therefore, here unusually well-preserved bodies (among other signs) is usually indicative of the location of a cemetery. However, when excavations take place in countries where embalming is not commonly practiced it can be difficult to tell whether or not the human remains were buried in a cemetery. As a result investigators often waste their time and resources investigating the deaths of individuals that have no forensic significance. This article explains some common markers that have been identified in Greek burials through a study of human remains in Greece by the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology of the University of Athens.

In order to begin identifying the origin of human skeletons one must first understand the burial practices of the contextual culture. In Greece embalming is only practiced on individuals who must be transported to another country and those who were prominent figures in society (there is a 2-3 day viewing period for the public in the church before burial). All individuals are buried with their heads toward the west.  There are also very few permanent cemeteries---most bodies are exhumed after a period of 3-5 years and placed in metal boxes to make room for new bodies to be buried. The boxes are stored in buildings called ossuaries. After a designated number of years in the ossuary the bodies are then disposed of in underground pits located within the cemetery or on non-residential, secluded areas of land. Some of the unidentified bodies are given to medical students for academic purposes. Yet another avenue of distribution is to be stolen by members of society for their use in playing practical jokes.

According to the authors the condition of the body itself offers the most information for identification of cemetery remains. If the body has been used for academic purposes they bones will often be bleached white and they may have wires stringing them together. Bones that were buried in a coffin often have what is referred to as ‘coffin wear,’ which is the erosion of pressure points of the skeleton like spinous process of vertebrae and the heads of the femur and humerus, among others. Coffin burials can also be identified by pieces of oak, chestnut or walnut wood found around the body. Also cut marks on the skull, ribs, sternum and claviculae can indicate the performance of an autopsy. Finally, if the bones were used for a practical joke they will often have wax, paint or glue traces on their surfaces.

In conclusion, it is of utmost importance for forensic anthropologists to become familiar with the funerary customs of the society in which excavations take place as customs vary widely between and within different countries. The authors of this article hope to offer information that can be used by forensic anthropologists to identify cemetery remains that are excavated within the contexts of cultures in which such identifications may be difficult, to the end of saving key investigative resources.

Source:

Constantine Eliopoulos, PhD, Konstantinos Moraitis, PhD,Þ Federico Reyes, PhD,
      Chara  Spiliopoulou, MD, PhD, & Sotiris Manolis, PhD (2011). Guidelines for
      the Recognition of Cemetery Remains in Greece, American Journal of 
      Forensic Medicine & Pathology Volume 32, Number 2, pp. 153-156.