Advancing forensic and anthropological approaches to search, recovery, identification, injury interpretation, evidence preservation, and laboratory analysis in conflict-affected settings.

While forensic anthropology standards are being developed in the United States, Latin American practice has long defined how to effectively investigate systematic disappearances in armed conflict contexts. Both regions have developed complementary expertise. The Search Lab draws upon this knowledge to define and promote best contextualized practices, establish baseline criteria for forensic identification of conflict victims, and to answer protracted methodological challenges, including how to individualize bodies that have been commingled in cemeteries and mass graves.