The use of ultraviolet light to reveal and enhance burned areas on human bone

Excerpt

In the field of forensic science, ultraviolet light has been widely used as a simple and easy method to search and analyze traces [1]. In the present case report, we would like to introduce a new application of ultraviolet light in the field of forensic anthropology. Despite the vast amount of available literature on bone fluorescence in forensic anthropology [2‐5], the possible use of this fluorescence in burn marks has not been researched extensively. When a body is burned, the heat and fire produce a gradient of colors on the bone which are defined by Schmidt and Symes as “calcined, charred, border and heat line”. This burn pattern can provide valuable information about the duration and temperature that a body region was exposed to heat [6]. During the case investigation of burned bones, ultraviolet light application allows us to conclude that ultraviolet light can be used to reveal burned areas as well as discriminate and enhance the color gradation, which was especially useful to determine a possible position of our victim. …