Buried Skeletal Summer School

[oksaradt]

Today's major goal between calls was to set up Murphy's next stage of training. Sixteen postholes were dug 12-14 inches deep. Eight holes have seven teeth dropped into them. Two holes have a human bone dropped into them, one a six-inch tibia shard and one a clavicle. Three holes have non-human remains, a deer joint with parts of long bones left by coyotes, a turtle shell, and the tail from a two-week dead armadillo. Three holes were left blank. The sixteen holes were placed in a four-by-four grid with six feet separating each hole north-to-south and eight feet separating each hole east-to-west. Eight ounces of well water was poured into the bottom of each hole regardless of what (if anything) was in the hole. Each hole was refilled using gloved hands to break up clods. Flags mark the ends of each row and column and stand eight feet away from any hole such that the flag is not perceived as a marker for scent. The terrain is grassy and surrounded by trees on all four sides. The land slopes downwards from west to east at a gentle grade of approximately 1/4 inch per foot. The soil is sandy loam. The soil was dry down to 10 inches and slightly moist below as we haven't had rain in about seven days. Problem set completed at 2100 and can be used any time after June 2nd. All holes were dug at the same time with clean post hole diggers. Gloves were worn to place distractions then changed. Gloves were worn to drop bones and changed. Gloves were worn to dispense teeth and changed. Gloves were worn to fill holes by hand.

As with any level, Murphy has to get ten consecutive targets in varying conditions for me to be satisfied he can progress further. Once this level is complete, I feel comfortable that he can start water training for dental/skeletal.

This problem set is just the next step to get Murphy where he can deal with graveyards, clandestine graves, and buried non-human remains all in the same area. The most difficult graveyard Dax has ever had to work was one where the graves were placed coffin-to-coffin as people died with no gaps between. A single acre out in the middle of thousands of acres of farmland.



Map of the area:

-----F-----F-----F------F

F----T----X1----B1-----T-----F

F----*-----T-----T-----X2----F

F----T-----*-----T------T-----F N-->

F----B2---X3-----T------*-----F

------F-----F-----F------F

F = Flag; T = Teeth; * = Blank Hole
X1 = Turtle Shell; X2 = Deer Bones; X3 = Armadillo Tail
B1 = Tibia Shard; B2 = Clavicle



Regards,

Jim Delbridge