<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This article presents a brief overview of the development of forensic archaeology in Lithuania. From the beginning of the early 1960s, the disciplines of forensic osteology and anthropology have been intensively developed through extensive work on numerous mass graves left in Lithuania after wars and other social disasters. This has allowed individual researchers and their teams to develop and validate a set of original, population-specific forensic osteological methods. Nevertheless, the term <italic>forensic archeology</italic> is still new in Lithuania. Only over the last few years has a short program of forensic archeology been offered to students of archaeology. The potential application of forensic archaeology in solving legal issues still lacks the interest of law enforcement and governmental institutions. We want to emphasize the importance of close collaboration between different institutions and an interdisciplinary approach to these investigations as a core value in achieving final goals. In addition, the particular importance of international cooperation to properly commemorate the victims of wars is emphasized.</p>
</abstract>

This article presents a brief overview of the development of forensic archaeology in Lithuania. From the beginning of the early 1960s, the disciplines of forensic osteology and anthropology have been intensively developed through extensive work on numerous mass graves left in Lithuania after wars and other social disasters. This has allowed individual researchers and their teams to develop and validate a set of original, population-specific forensic osteological methods. Nevertheless, the term forensic archeology is still new in Lithuania. Only over the last few years has a short program of forensic archeology been offered to students of archaeology. The potential application of forensic archaeology in solving legal issues still lacks the interest of law enforcement and governmental institutions. We want to emphasize the importance of close collaboration between different institutions and an interdisciplinary approach to these investigations as a core value in achieving final goals. In addition, the particular importance of international cooperation to properly commemorate the victims of wars is emphasized.

Development of forensic archaeology in Lithuania and identification of historical persons

Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine

Scandinavian Journal of Forensic Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This article presents a brief overview of the development of forensic archaeology in Lithuania. From the beginning of the early 1960s, the disciplines of...

Development of forensic archaeology in Lithuania and identification of historical persons

Published Online: Dec 21, 2022

Page range: 40 - 49

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjfs-2022-0012

Keywords
exhumations of mass graves, personal identification, forensic anthropology, craniofacial superimposition

© 2022 Rimantas Jankauskas et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Development of forensic archaeology in Lithuania and identification of historical persons

Published Online: Dec 21, 2022

Page range: 40 - 49

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjfs-2022-0012

Keywordsexhumations of mass graves, personal identification, forensic anthropology, craniofacial superimposition

© 2022 Rimantas Jankauskas et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
exhumations of mass graves, personal identification, forensic anthropology, craniofacial superimposition