Challenges associated with investigating a mass grave at the koriĆani cliffs in central bosnia

Publication date: Available online 17 June 2019Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal MedicineAuthor(s): Anes Jogunčić, Adis Salihbegović, Emina Spahić, Nermin SarajlićAbstractMore than 200 men were killed at the Korićani Cliffs on Mount Vlašić in central Bosnia during the Bosnian war. The location of this mass grave remained unknown for a long time following the war, until 2008, when the Missing Persons Institute discovered a site containing the remains of approximately 60 individuals. Later, in September 2017, a new mass grave was identified at this location that had not been robbed and skeletal remains remained close to the location where the victims had died. This grave was also unique, by definition, as it was a primary inhumation site, but with a high degree of commingling and disarticulation, typical of secondary inhumation locations. The exhumation team found the first remains in this grave approximately one and a half meters beneath the rocks, while the extent of the commingling resulted in necessary modifications to standardized exhumation protocols. The search and recovery process primarily focused on skulls, groups of bones that remained in clothing, and any bones that were still connected to each other. In total, 86 skulls, 137 groups of bones that had at least 2 bones connected, and a couple of hundred small bones that could not be appointed to individuals, were retrieved. The material was taken to the Šejkovaca Identification Centre where the team took ...
Source: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine - Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research