In summer 2004, on an excavation site in Prague, Czech Republic, a trained human remains detection canine was presented with a rare opportunity: to imprint the scent of ancient human bones. This paper will raise the following questions: Is there a human signature in ancient bones that a trained canine can recognize? In the near future, should trained canines assist archaeologists and anthropologists locate unmarked buried human skeletal remains?

KEY WORDS

Human remains detection, anthropology, archaeology, remote sensing, canine, Donner, Alder Creek.

DISCUSSION

For centuries man has used canines to assist with many everyday chores. Canines are bred specifically for hunting, herding sheep or cattle, and guarding private property.

A canine that helps its handler detect modern or ancient human bones needs to have a healthy hunt drive and good work ethic. But even such a canine will not find anything if it is unable to detect the smell specific for such bones.

Do modern and ancient bones smell the same to a trained canine?

We don’t have an answer to this question yet, but according to our tests a canine trained on both modern and ancient sets of bones will find them. In training, Institute for Canine Forensics’ (ICF) canines have located hidden and buried modern and ancient bones.

For the past four years, an ICF canine and its handler travel to Europe to train on archaeological sites. In cooperation with scientists in Prague, the canine trains to recognize the scent of ancient human bones. However, ancient human bones often calcify. Therefore, a legitimate question remains: If the bones turned to mineral, can a trained canine detect calcified ancient human bones?

Dr. Kelly Dixon, assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Montana and Ms. Heidi Hill, Masters’ Candidate, are working on a project involving soil analysis on the soil samples from Bronze Age burials from the Czech Republic; from the Donner Family Camp site where the dogs alerted but no visible remains were found, designated as “Unit George;” samples from the fire hearth located in the summer of 2004; control samples from other areas of the Alder Creek meadow at the Donner Family Camp site; samples from historic Lolo Grave in Montana; and soils from a modern University of Montana forensic experiment.

INTRODUCTION

The questions put forth in this research proposal are also intended to fulfill the requirements of Heidi Hill’s Master’s of Arts degree in Forensic and Culture Heritage Anthropology.

Heidi Hill: "My research involves an analysis of soil excavated at the Alder Creek Site located in the Tahoe National Forest. Human Remains Detection (HRD) dogs alerted on the portion of the Alder Creek meadow that contained this soil, suggesting the presence of human remains. Geology Department personnel at the University of Montana, performed the soil analysis. The goal is to identify a human signature in soil and correlate this signature to results from our soil analysis to determine whether a human signature is present in the area where the dogs alerted. The goal is to be able to substantiate and justify the use of HRD dogs as tools in historical archaeological research involving human remains by explaining what they may be scenting upon when there are no visible remains present".

Dogs have exquisite scenting abilities, much more sensitive than humans.

"Human beings have approximately 5 million olfactory receptor cells. A bloodhound has 100 million such cells" (Rebmann etal. 2000:8). The olfactory system of canines is hypersensitive. It allows for the detection of a wide range of odors under difficult conditions. Dogs are able to distinguish between the target odor in an environment full of distracting odors. Dogs "are able to detect both the presence and relative concentration of scent. That is, they are able to discriminate and follow a pattern of increasing concentration to its source at the apex of the scent cone" (Rebmann etal. 2000:12). They are able to find the source of the scent, whereas human olfactory systems are not usually refined enough to allow us to make this distinction.

Research ascertaining the exact mechanism behind human remains detection dogs’ recognition of historical burials is virtually unexplored. There has been a study conducted by Dr. V. A. Vass and colleagues. They have designed a detection system that simulates the olfactory system of canines. Sensors detect the chemical composition of air being transmitted by buried bodies during decomposition. They have compiled a "Decompositional Odor Analysis (DOA) Database" (Vass etal 2004:760).

"Many researchers would agree that canines still possess olfactory capabilities that are far more sensitive than our best analytical technology. It is speculated that this capability stems primarily from their ability to distinguish one complex scent profile from another.

Unfortunately this assertion is difficult to test, validate, calibrate, and most importantly, standardize" (Vass etal 2004:760).

The study is ongoing, and preliminary results extend over the first year and a half since burial only. The fundamental purpose of the study is to "define the chemical fingerprint produced by human decomposition over a span of many years in hopes of understanding human chemical decay processes and thereby enhancing canine training programs to improve performance as well as providing specific data necessary for the development of reliable detection instrumentation. Results to date provide an encouraging first step to attaining these goals" (Vass etal 2004:760-761). This study is very promising as the current literature is very minimal. Ultimately this study could help us understand the exact mechanism underlying the dogs’ ability to sense human burials.

The Institute for Canine Forensics has been conducting field studies at historic cemeteries. These field studies have proven to be auspicious as the dogs were able to identify several lost graves in the cemetery Boca Cemetery, Truckee, CA, ICF 2004. Since this field study, the dogs have been utilized at several other historical context burial sites. These types of studies are also encouraging, as they help substantiate the use of human remains detection canines in archaeological studies. These positive results suggest that the areas identified by the HRD dogs at the Alder Creek site may have been in contact with human remains.

Therefore, the next part of this research project involves soil analysis. "The presence of a grave site or buried body may be indicated through soil analysis in several ways. It may be detected by a difference in texture or visual soil components, soil organic content, soil pH, chemical composition, or soil gases" (Killam 1990:59). Lab work involves trace element analysis and comparison as well as carbon content, but most specifically phosphate analysis of the soil samples. Analysis has been conducted on the soil samples from the Donner Family Camp site where the dogs alerted but no visible remains were found, designated as "Unit George;" samples from the fire hearth located in the summer of 2004; control samples from other areas of the Alder Creek meadow at the Donner Family Camp site; samples from historic Lolo Grave in Montana; soil samples from Bronze Age burials from the Czech Republic; and soils from a modern University of Montana forensic experiment.

Laboratory analysis shows the chemical composition of the soil. A close attention is paid to the phosphate concentration, trace element concentration, and organic versus inorganic carbon concentration of the soil.

"Fresh bone is a complex of mineral and organic materials, the mineral being chiefly calcium phosphate. As a body decomposes, the organic portion is broken down into simple compounds such as carbon monoxide, ammonia, and water. The mineral constituents of the bone are the most resistant to change. The rate of decomposition depends upon the acidity of the soil, drainage, aeration, climate, and the pre-existing chemical composition of the soil. The phosphates from the bones are the most enduring" (Killam 1990:63).

Thus, chemical analysis of the soil samples from the fire hearth "Unit George", and control samples compared to the other known burial samples should show a human signature through phosphate concentration in combination with trace element concentration if the soil was in contact with human remains. Chemical analysis of the soil is complete and comparative analysis will be conducted over the next month.

RESEARCH METHODS

Ms. Hill and Dr. Dixon have not been able to locate another study that is published concerning phosphate analysis used to identify historical human burials from soil examination. Very little literature exists regarding forensic dog use, specifically human remains detection dogs in a historical context. Most of what exists is vague and pending publication. The literature review regarding soil analysis is a slow process, but once complete, research shall carry on nicely.

Soil analysis from all of the locations discussed previously is being performed. Initial preparation of all soil samples was conducted this fall of 2005. The samples were “washed” by sifting each sample and extracting very small bone fragments identified under close examination. The samples were then oven dried to stabilize the soils’ chemical constituents. A small portion of each sample (approximately 10 ml) was then separately pulverized and ground using a Wiley Mill. The samples were then put through several tests conducted at the University of Montana Geology laboratory. An analysis plan was designed under Dr. Langner’s guidance and appropriate laboratory tests have been carried out, facilitating adequate analysis and comparison. An ICP machine was used to determine trace element content and concentration of each soil sample. All soil samples were then analyzed for carbon content using a Coulometer. Each of these tests involves multiple laboratory preparation steps and will be specifically outlined in the final draft of this research project’s written report.

Results of the soil analysis and comparative scrutiny of all of the sample results and data will assist in determining the nature of the dogs’ ability to scent on historical human remains. The comparative results of the soil analysis will establish an explanation of the dogs’ signals (or alerts) and justification of the use of HRD dogs in archaeological research. The HRD dogs and their handlers were brought to Missoula in April 2005. The dogs were allowed to re-scent on the soil out of its Alder Creek meadow context. The results of this demonstration were positive and comparison of these test results to the laboratory data are expected to be influential in the final interpretation of the soil analysis. Soil analysis involves performance of lab analysis as well as off site field tests.

It is not certain whether this research project will involve other research methods; that possibility is not ruled out. It cannot be assumed that all bases have been covered with the initial design of this research plan. It may be that other forms of research method will be enlisted. The option will be left open until at least the soil chemical analysis and subsequent data interpretation is complete.

One thing is certain, this study will generate some new knowledge that should be helpful to its cause. Largely, this project will provide supplemental details to the Donner Party research. This data will also provide evidence of the HRD dogs’ sensing and scenting abilities, and prove their usefulness in forensic archaeology.

Ultimately, the dogs have proven themselves helpful in that they did alert on the fire hearth which did yield human bone. This project will potentially corroborate through laboratory and data analysis the ability of human remains detection dogs and validate their yet proven mystical powers.

CONCLUSION

The goals of this research project are lofty and seem somewhat complex. Dr. Dixon, Ms. Heidi Hill and the dog handlers from the Institute for Canine Forensics have every confidence that the research design is adequate and results will be significant. The use of Human Remains Detection dogs in archaeological research is not beyond reach. Whatever the outcome, persistence and diligent research methods will at least provide explanations to better understand the sources of the dogs’ alerts.

For more information contact:

Eva Cecil
evacecil@aol.com   
Institute for Canine Forensics

Heidi Hill
heidiho@blackfoot.net
University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812

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