Admir Jugo,
Šefkija Muzaferović
1 Forenzički arheolog, ICMP – International Comission on Missing Persons,
Alipašina 45a, 71000 Sarajevo
2 Odsjek za Biologiju, Prirodno-Matematički fakultet, Univerzitet u Sarajevu,
Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
ABSTRACT
Jugo, A. & Muzaferović, Š. Preliminary data regarding application of forensic entomology in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This paper examines problems and challenges that forensic entomology faces in Bosnia and Herzegovina today in the process of excavations of mass graves. The lack of even basic documents which would contain a list of species inhabiting these parts hampers any attempts of research. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the current research conducted in entomology in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to asses the potential of applying forensic entomology in medico-legal investigations of mass graves in this country.
Key words: Forensic entomology, mass graves, carrion species
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SUMMARY
This paper examines problems and challenges that forensic entomology faces in Bosnia and Herzegovina today in the process of excavations of mass graves. Even though the first forensic entomology case was recorded in 13th century China, the value of forensic entomology was not recognized until the late 19th century when, during exhumations of mass graves in France and Germany, large numbers of arthropods were observed associated with human remains. The publication of Mégnin’s book on this subject was a turning point from which forensic entomology gradually started to be considered useful and was applied in many different aspects of medico-legal investigations ranging from determining PMI, determining place of death, mode of death to investigation of wildlife crimes and DNA typing. Research into taxonomy and ecology of natural life in Bosnia and Herzegovina is limited. The lack of even basic documents which would contain a list of species inhabiting these parts hampers any attempts of research.
Forensic entomology is a narrow field within entomology and strongly relies on it. In recent years, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there were only two researches within the field of entomology. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the current research conducted in entomology in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to asses the potential of applying forensic entomology in medico-legal investigations of mass graves in this country.