Lecturer leads world mass graves protocol

Date: 18 January 2012

Ian Hanson appointed by International Commission on Missing Persons.

Bournemouth University’s Senior Lecturer in Forensic Archaeology Ian Hanson has been appointed by the International Commission on Missing Persons (IC-MP) to put his globally significant procedures for mass grave excavation and identification in place across the world.

As Deputy Director of Forensic Science for Archaeology and Anthropology, Ian will primarily be responsible for implementing the scientific processes that ensure forensic evidence collected in excavations and mortuary examinations is of a suitable standard for use in criminal courts and to identify the missing.

Ian said: “Forensic operations provide the vital physical evidence that assists in bringing those responsible for atrocity crimes to justice, as well as providing the much needed closure that identification and repatriation gives grieving families. I’m honoured to be accepting the position, which I hope will widen the impact of this globally significant work.”

Once in post Ian will continue with his work providing training and support to investigations, such as assisting the Ministry of Human Rights teams retrieving human remains from mass graves in Iraq, which he started during sabbatical from BU in 2009-11.

The position will also involve substantial activities in the former Yugoslavia, training programs in the Middle East, and Columbia and disaster victim identification responses around the world.

Throughout his career Ian has built up a global reputation for expertise in this field. In 2008 he co-authored the publication ‘The Scientific Investigation of Mass Graves ’, which has informed procedures around the world, and in 2004-05, together with his forensic science colleagues at Bournemouth University, he developed the internationally recognised Mass Graves and Temporary Mortuary Investigations courses; yearly exercises simulating mass grave excavation and identification procedures and providing vital practical experience for graduates and professionals.

Ian, who takes up the contract in Sarajevo next month said: “The forensic archaeology and anthropology expertise at BU has been widely recognised since the first course began in 1996. It has been a privilege developing research and academic and international consultancy potential since I joined BU in 2001. I’m sure that we will all continue to work together to develop and accelerate investigations of crimes against humanity and identification of the missing using archaeological and forensic sciences.”