Using an ALS to Search for Surface Deposited Skeletal Remains

Brown T.E. and Christensen A.M. (2018) Using an Alternate Light Source (ALS) to Search for Surface Deposited Skeletal Remains. Forensic Anthropology, 1(1), 68-73.

This study evaluated whether supplementing traditional daytime crime scene line searches with an alternate light source (ALS) after dark improves the recovery of small, surface-scattered skeletal remains. Using 48 skeletonized domestic pig (Sus scrofa) bones and teeth measuring less than 4 cm, 13 volunteer teams tested three distinct search strategies in a wooded environment: a daytime line search only, a nighttime ALS-only search (using 450 nm light and an orange filter), and a combined daytime/nighttime approach. The results showed that ALS-inclusive searches located significantly more remains (p < 0.001), with the daytime-only search recovering an average of 19 specimens, the ALS-only search recovering 33 specimens, and the combined search recovering 37.4 specimens. While adding a nighttime ALS phase roughly doubles the overall search time and introduces outdoor nocturnal hazards, the authors highly recommend combining both methods to substantially boost the recovery of small bones, fragments, and teeth that are easily missed during daylight hours.

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