Burnt human remains: recovery, identification and trauma analysis
Published on October 9, 2026
THE EVENT
This talk will explore some of the fatal fire contexts in which forensic archaeologists and forensic anthropologists may be involved. It will cover the recovery of human remains from buildings, vehicles and other fire scenes, as well as subsequent considerations around identification and the ethical challenges associated with the examination of burnt remains. Research into trauma analysis will also be highlighted.
Participants will gain an understanding of the challenges posed by different fire scenes, approaches to the recovery of human remains, and the ethical considerations that should be addressed before recovery begins and prior to subsequent analysis in the mortuary.
Due to the sensitive nature of the material being presented, please note that audio and video recording will not be permitted and no recording of this event will be made available for later viewing. We therefore encourage all interested participants to attend the live session to ensure they do not miss this unique opportunity.
This event takes place on October 15, 2026 at 4pm CET.
Register for free below.
REGISTRATION
THE SPEAKER
Dr Nicolás Márquez-Grant
Dr Nicolás Márquez-Grant is a Chartered Forensic Anthropologist (ChFA) of the Royal Anthropological Institute and Chair of the British Association for Forensic Anthropology (BAFA). He is a Research Affiliate at the University of Oxford and, since October 2026, a researcher at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Previously, he was Associate Professor in Forensic Anthropology at Cranfield University (2013–2026). He has extensive international experience in forensic anthropology and archaeology, including casework, expert witness testimony and research, with numerous publications in both fields.
See Nicolas’ TED Talk here: