Identification Defined
Identification is defined as the act of establishing an identity that makes an entity definable and recognizable (Black 2007; see also Latham et al. 2017; Mallett et al. 2014). While identification may be important in cases involving the living (e.g., Black et al. 2010; Blau et al. 2006: 387), in archaeological and forensic cases, identification involves attributing a correct name to human remains. There are various circumstances where there may be a requirement to establish the identity of a deceased individual: following an unexplained natural death, homicide, suicide, or accident; in cases of death following political, ethnic, or religious violence; and mass disaster incidents. The attempted identification of historic figures has also been pursued (Blau et al. 2014; Bogdanowicza et al. 2009; Clark 2011; Stone et al. 2001).
While the cause and manner of death can be determined independently of identification, the absence of the name of the deceased person means...
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Blau, S., Fondebrider, L. (2018). Human Skeletal Remains: Identification of Individuals. In: Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51726-1_154-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51726-1_154-2
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