Nondestructive Alternatives: Canine Remote Sensing (Scenting)

Part of: Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Nondestructive Alternatives: Canine Remote Sensing (Scenting)" at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

For many years Historic Human Remains Detection (HHRD) dogs, specifically trained to locate ancient burials, have been involved in noninvasive surveys where unmarked burials are suspected. Their ability to identify the scent of historic and pre-contact human remains adds vital information that can help protect burial areas. The role of archaeology has changed greatly in the last twenty years. CRM firms, archaeologists, and Native communities must adapt techniques to meet new needs (for example, additions to AB 52-CEQA and global climate change). Requests to review museum and academic collections to locate human remains and associated funerary items are more common. Burials that are in danger of eroding or flooding need to be located so they can be protected. This symposium includes experts from different fields who have combined their specialty with the information provided by HHRD dogs. This multi-disciplinary approach allows all parties involved to reach a common goal - to preserve and protect sensitive cultural material or areas.

Other Keywords
Cultural Heritage and Preservation

Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-7 of 7)

  • Documents (7)
Documents
  • Advancing the Role of Historical Human Remains Detection Dogs: Expanding Capabilities in Archaeology and Preservation (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Ronda Bowser.

    This is an abstract from the "Nondestructive Alternatives: Canine Remote Sensing (Scenting)" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. The use of Historical Human Remains Detection (HHRD) dogs has seen significant advancements, becoming increasingly vital in both archaeology and forensic investigations. These specially trained dogs possess an extraordinary ability to detect the scent of human remains, even those that have been buried or decomposed for...

  • Canine Detection of Scattered Scent from Historic Dismembered Human Bodies (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only John Grebenkemper.

    This is an abstract from the "Nondestructive Alternatives: Canine Remote Sensing (Scenting)" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. One of the most difficult canine detection tasks for historic human remains detection dogs is finding the scent from a dismembered body that is hundreds of years old. When a body is not buried and left on surface, animal activity will scatter the bones and flesh over hundreds of meters. Each of these pieces of flesh and bone...

  • Evolving Archaeology and Unique Scenarios for HHRD Dogs (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Adela Morris.

    This is an abstract from the "Nondestructive Alternatives: Canine Remote Sensing (Scenting)" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. The Historical Human Remains Detection (HHRD) dog profession is evolving and specializing beyond just locating ancient burials. The HHRD dog brings unique information that no other archaeological tool can detect - the scent of ancient human remains. Archaeology is changing to meet new challenges. For example: climate change...

  • Going to the Dogs, Applying HHRD in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Russell Skowronek.

    This is an abstract from the "Nondestructive Alternatives: Canine Remote Sensing (Scenting)" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Beginning in the fall of 2017 faculty, staff, and students affiliated with the Department of Anthropology, School of Earth Environment and Marine Science, and Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools Program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley were aided in their cemetery research projects by the HHR...

  • Historic Human Remains Detection Dogs 101 for Archaeologists (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Lisa Lee.

    This is an abstract from the "Nondestructive Alternatives: Canine Remote Sensing (Scenting)" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Canine resources have been shown to be effective at assisting archaeologists in locating historic and pre-contact human remains. This paper is intended as a primer for archeologists on how to work effectively with Historic Human Remains Detection (HHRD) dogs. Topics include specific terms used in the HHRD dog profession, how...

  • Multi-Method Burial Surveys Addressing the Apartheid of the Departed (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only David Maki.

    This is an abstract from the "Nondestructive Alternatives: Canine Remote Sensing (Scenting)" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Consistent and reliable detection of human burials remains one of the most challenging goals of non-invasive surveys. Furthermore, since the graves of marginalized peoples have often been poorly documented and left unprotected, the resulting "apartheid of the departed" complicates efforts to locate and protect their burials....

  • What Using Historical Human Remains Detection Dogs Brings to the Indigenous Community (2025)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Lynne Engelbert.

    This is an abstract from the "Nondestructive Alternatives: Canine Remote Sensing (Scenting)" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. For many Indigenous communities, it is a continuous effort to protect cultural landscapes, sacred places or locations of unmarked burials. However, many communities also wish to avoid ground-disturbing activities within these spaces. These sites can only be protected if their location is known. Indigenous communities are...