Searching medieval human remains using ground penetrating radar: A case study in Venosa (Basilicata, Southern Italy)

Abstract

Controlled forensic geophysical research involving GPR has proven to be a valuable resource, and the information gathered from these studies has been applied to forensic casework. The probability of detecting a grave for a longer postmortem interval differs with the soil type and the materials added to the grave with the body. In the studied case a detailed GPR survey was conducted in the Basilica della Trinità at Venosa a village located about 40 km north from Potenza (Basilicata, Italy).

Unfortunately during the restoration works of the Basilica, there was a cement spill inside a sarcophagus containing human remains. The necessity to perform the genetic analysis of medieval human remains to reconstruct the distribution of the original line of descent of the Norman noble families aimed the need to understand whether or not there was a body inside the sarcophagus and, if so, its exact position.

The radar profiles from this survey showed the clear amplitude contrast anomalies, emanated from the corpses. The strongest amplitude contrasts are observed at around 0.2–0.5 m depth which is consistent with the depth of the buried corp.