The challenge of this project, initiated in 2021, is to characterize the respective contributions of medical imaging techniques (CT scan, MRI) and 3D surface acquisitions (laser or structured light scanner, photogrammetry) in the reading of VAB.
Projects
This research project, to be carried out over 4 years, led by E. Anstett and based on a collaboration with Prof. S. Garibian (University of Geneva, Switzerland) and the Forensic Division of the ICRC, is currently being prepared to be submitted for an ERC-Advanced grant. It proposes a multidisciplinary approach to the problems (technical, legal, ethical and cultural) generated by the handling of extremely fragmented and unidentifiable human remains, particularly in situations of disaster, war or mass crime.
The objective is to propose paleopathological studies of collections (or expert assessments of the potential of the health approach to populations of the past) for comparisons between several contexts or to inform funerary recruitment.
The principles and methods of archaeothanatology are now widely accepted for an optimized approach and understanding of funerary and mortuary contexts, both for past and present societies. Nevertheless, there is sometimes a lack of transmission and training concerning these principles, or even a real lack of knowledge, on the part of the actors of archaeology. This can lead to a poor approach in the field, and even to the non-recognition of structures and gestures, which then leads to an irremediable loss of primary data, equivalent to the pure and simple destruction of sites.
The objective is to propose paleopathological studies of collections (or expert assessments of the potential of the health approach to populations of the past) for comparisons between several contexts or to inform funerary recruitment.