Craig, E. A., & Vezaro, N. (1998). Use of an alternate light source to locate bone and tooth fragments. Journal of Forensic Identification, 48(4), 451–457.

This 1998 study by Craig and Vezaro evaluated the utility of an alternate light source (ALS) as an adjunct tool for forensic investigators to locate small bone and tooth fragments in laboratory and field settings. Through laboratory experimentation using a forensic light source and a spectrofluorometer, the authors established that human bones and teeth emit a strong fluorescence peaking at 450 nm when excited in the violet-blue-green range (optimally under a 380–540 nm Crime Scene Search filter viewed with orange goggles). The laboratory results demonstrated that bones and teeth could be easily differentiated from surrounding rocks because their fluorescence was 20 to 50 times stronger than that of inherently fluorescent geological materials. Furthermore, three practical case reports confirmed the real-world value of this application, demonstrating its effectiveness in recovering tiny tooth buds from clandestine grave soil, isolating 3x5 mm fragments from a vehicle interior, and distinguishing charred skeletal shards from heavily incinerated debris and ash.

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