An Overview of Conservation Methods for Human Skeletal Remains Recovered in an Aquatic Context and Their Forensic Application

ABSTRACT There is limited scientific literature describing forensic recovery operations in a maritime context, both underwater and coastal as it is not always possible to authorize the publication of such materials which is sensitive both to the victims and their surviving families. Recent scholarly work recognizes that materials recovered from marine settings require conservation processes and consolidation treatments, which can interfere with pathological, traumatic, and taphonomic evidence associated with human remains. I performed a systematic review of conservation and consolidation methods concerning organic material, specifically focusing on skeletal remains recovered in an aquatic environment. These were complemented by 50+ cases of human skeletal remains recovered in a waterlogged or foreshore environment and include both forensic and historic remains. Following that, I produced nuanced tabular data concerning the recovery context (historic vs. forensic remains), environment (submerged vs. foreshore), water conditions (saltwater vs. freshwater), consolidation and conservation methods used, and relevant references. The collected information demonstrated the preference to use less invasive methods. This allowed me to discuss possible solutions concerning the on‐site treatment of the remains, transportation medium and conditions, conservation, consolidation, and restoration methods which will not compromise the remains prior forensic analyses, and post‐forensic analyses storage conditions. This study has not been attempted before and aims to create a bridge from forensics into conservation of maritime finds which currently does not exist. Moreover, it will provide forensic practitioners with a basis to explore the featured cases, conservation methods and materials used, and push scientific boundaries further.