UWC postgraduate students and forensic specialists put their skills to the test during a simulated forensic search and excavation exercise with Stellenbosch University and SAPS. Image: Supplied

The investigation of human skeletal remains is a complex process requiring collaboration between forensic specialists and law enforcement. From securing a scene to recovering, documenting, and examining remains, each stage demands careful coordination and established forensic procedures.

This multidisciplinary approach was brought to life on 3 September 2026, when postgraduate students from the Forensic Odontology Unit at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) participated in a forensic search and excavation exercise in collaboration with Stellenbosch University (SU) and the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The exercise formed part of postgraduate forensic training and provided students with hands-on experience in the search, documentation and recovery of skeletal remains. The exercise highlighted the importance of communication between forensic disciplines when investigating unidentified remains.

The exercise was led by a multidisciplinary team comprising Dr Amanda Alblas (SU), field supervisor and investigating officer; Captain Teunis Briers from SAPS, scene coordinator; Dr Elysia Greenway (SU); and, Dr Susan Chandler (UWC), scene assistant.

A controlled outdoor scene was created using replica skeletal material, animal bones, simulated evidence and a staged area of disturbed ground. Students were required to treat the scene as a genuine medico-legal investigation, applying principles of scene preservation, systematic searching, evidence documentation and controlled recovery.

Postgraduate students from UWC and Stellenbosch University take part in a hands-on forensic excavation alongside forensic specialists and SAPS members, gaining practical insight into the collaborative work behind the recovery and identification of human remains. Image: Supplied

The scenario began with the discovery of suspected skeletal remains. Students searched the area for evidence before establishing an excavation grid and commencing a controlled recovery. They photographed and mapped the scene, recorded the location, orientation, and depth of the skeletal material, and documented the findings before removing evidence. Excavated soil was also screened for smaller items, including teeth and bone fragments, which can easily be overlooked during recovery.

Postgraduate researcher Dr Krishka Ramchuran, from UWC Dentistry’s Forensic Odontology Unit, said the exercise demonstrated how different forensic disciplines work together. It also highlighted forensic odontology’s contribution to multidisciplinary investigations. Dental evidence can assist with the examination and identification of human remains through analysis of dental structures, dental records and other odontological evidence. Dental characteristics may also contribute to biological profiling and stature estimation when conventional skeletal approaches are limited.

“The exercise provides an opportunity for participants to understand how these disciplines work together, from the initial discovery and securing of a scene through to the recovery and documentation of remains,” she said.

The exercise reinforced the importance of accurate documentation, disciplined observation, teamwork and interdisciplinary communication. Students were encouraged to distinguish between observations and interpretations, reflecting the standards required in real forensic investigations.

It gave students insight into the academic and operational dimensions of forensic investigation. Bringing together forensic odontology, forensic anthropology and law enforcement expertise demonstrated how multidisciplinary collaboration strengthens the recovery and identification of human remains.

“For participating postgraduate students, the experience extended learning beyond the classroom and provided skills essential to forensic practice. It reinforced a central principle of human identification: effective forensic investigations depend on specialists working together towards a common objective,” Dr Ramchuran noted.