DISINTERMENT FROM PAVING MATERIALS - USE OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT FOR EXHUMATION AND EXAMINATION OF BODIES

Common paving materials-concrete and asphalt-pose an unusual and compl ex barrier to disinterment and examination of human remains, Although not commonly encountered, these materials are seen with sufficient fre quency to justify consideration of the procedures and equipment necess ary for disinterment. Over a seven year period we have encountered pav ing materials seven times. In each of these cases, the material was sl ightly different in quality, and different tools-including heavy const ruction equipment-were necessary. Sometimes the paving material could be managed without heavy power tools, but occasionally specialized con struction tools have proven very useful.