Fingerprinting the deceased: Traditional and new techniques

Idenfication of the deceased is an important task in medicolegal investigat ions. Fingerprints rank as the most widely used identification method, alth ough obtaining the prints From the cadaver is not always easily accomplishe d. Various techniques fur fingerprinting decomposed, mummified, and burn vi ctims have been suggested in the literature. In the present review, the div erse fingerprinting procedures implemented for cadavers in various conditio ns, with an emphasis on mummified fingers, are presented.