Adaptation of archaeological techniques in forensic mass grave exhumation: the experience of 'Chemmani' excavation in northern Sri Lanka.

There have been several mass grave excavations in Sri Lanka during the period of 1995 to 1998. Excavation of mass graves in the Chemmani area of northern peninsula of the country took place in September 1999, after about 5 years of the incident. Six graves with 1 to 6 bodies in each were identified and excavated in accordance with archaeological methods modified to suit the requirements of forensic exhumations. The experience gathered from excavation of those sites revealed the importance of archaeological methods in mass grave exhumations. For the first time in our forensic history, services of archaeologists and soil experts were used in the Chemmani exhumation. Their knowledge was found useful in locating the pit, pedestalling, and collection of human remains without causing any damage and artefacts, and in recording of the data.

A triple murder.

Three partially burnt bodies were found in a burnt out bedroom. A candle and matches were found on a partially burnt bed, suggesting accidental deaths. Careful scene analysis and forensic post-mortems demonstrated that this was a multiple murder rather than an accident.