Evolving Archaeology and Unique Scenarios for HHRD Dogs

Summary

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 endangering burials, wildland fires leading to erosion that threatens sacred sites, and museum and academic institutions complying with NAPGRA. The first challenge is locating the remains so they can be protected. HHRD dogs are meeting these new archeological needs as part of a joint collaborative approach. Specially trained HHRD dogs are now looking for cremated human remains lost during shipping, searching museum and academic collections, surveying historic church floors and walls and excavated spoils piles looking for human remains scent. Properly trained HHRD dogs can add tools to the changing needs of archaeology.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• Nondestructive Alternatives: Canine Remote Sensing (Scenting)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 50382