Forensic osteological investigations in Kosovo

A team of Finnish forensic experts performed investigations of alleged mass graves in Kosovo under the mandate of the European Union (EU). Human skele tal remains from two locations were examined. The remains contained three a lmost complete skeletons, and individual bones and bone fragments, part of which were burned. Injuries, pathological changes, and findings for identif ication purposes were examined and documented using standard methods of for ensic pathology and osteology. Gunshot injuries were found in some cases. b ut reliable determination of the cause and manner of death was not possible . A discrepancy arose between the number of victims reported in information received from the presiding district court, and results of the investigati ons. The estimation of the minimum number of victims was mostly acquired by DNA analysis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.