The Bone Woman

1. A Deep Calling to Make Bones Talk for Justice

I had known for years that my goal was to help end human rights abuses by proving to would-be killers that bones can talk.

Early fascination. From a young age, the author was drawn to bones and the past, collecting dead birds and animal remains, and later experimenting with decomposition. This interest solidified into a desire to work with human remains after seeing a documentary about Pompeii and forensic anthropology. The idea that bones could reveal stories about the deceased ignited a passion.

Inspired by pioneers. Reading "Witnesses from the Grave" about Clyde Snow and the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team was a pivotal moment. This book demonstrated how forensic science could be used not just for identification but to hold perpetrators of state-sponsored violence accountable. The image of Snow using a skull to testify in court became a powerful inspiration.

Training for purpose. Pursuing forensic anthropology at the University of Arizona, the author gained practical experience working with unidentified bodies. While initially focused on domestic cases, the underlying motivation was always to apply these skills to human rights investigations, driven by a strong sense of justice shaped by her parents' documentary work on global conflicts and oppression.

2. The Visceral Reality of Exhuming Mass Graves

The stench of death and how it pervaded everything.

Overwhelming sensory experience. Working in mass graves involves confronting intense and pervasive odors of decomposition, which cling to clothing and permeate the environment. The physical conditions are often challenging, including heat, humidity, rain, mud, and difficult terrain like steep slopes or deep pits.

Disturbing sights. The state of the bodies varies from skeletonized to mummified to actively decomposing, often entangled and tightly packed. Maggots, body fluids, and saponified tissue are common sights. The sheer volume of dead, particularly women and children in Rwanda or men with hands tied in Bosnia, is a constant, grim reality.

Physical demands. The work is physically taxing, requiring hours of crouching, kneeling, picking, shoveling, and lifting heavy, awkward bodies or buckets of dirt. This strenuous labor is compounded by inadequate equipment, lack of basic amenities like running water, and the need to wear cumbersome protective gear in hot conditions.

3. Bones Speak: Forensic Science Gives Voice to the Silenced

The state-sanctioned murderers doubtless thought they’d heard the last of her, but Clyde’s work was making them think again.

Unlocking testimony. Forensic anthropologists analyze skeletal remains to determine key biological information: age, sex, stature, ancestry, and evidence of trauma. This scientific analysis provides objective facts about the victims and how they died, transforming silent bones into powerful witnesses.

Documenting atrocities. By systematically documenting injuries like gunshot wounds, blunt force trauma, or sharp force trauma, forensic teams provide concrete evidence of the violence inflicted. The location and type of injuries can corroborate witness testimony and demonstrate patterns of killing, such as executions or defensive wounds.

Holding perpetrators accountable. The physical evidence recovered from mass graves is crucial for international criminal tribunals. It serves as irrefutable proof that crimes against humanity occurred, supporting indictments and prosecutions against those responsible. The dead, through forensic investigation, can speak truth to power and contribute to historical accuracy.

4. The Heavy Psychological Burden of Witnessing Death

I felt I was betraying him, or his mother; I couldn’t work out which.

Emotional intrusion. While trained for scientific detachment, the constant exposure to violent death takes a psychological toll. The author experienced moments where the scientific perspective broke down, seeing the remains not just as cases but as individuals who suffered immense fear and pain.

Stress and trauma. The cumulative stress of the work, combined with traumatic incidents like witnessing murders or being in dangerous situations, led to symptoms like anxiety, nightmares, and difficulty relaxing. The pervasive stench and disturbing images lingered long after leaving the site.

Loss of self. The intensity of mission life and the focus on death sometimes made it difficult to connect with normal life or even remember who she was outside the work. This feeling of being an outsider or alien persisted upon returning home, highlighting the profound personal transformation wrought by the experience.

5. Navigating the Labyrinthine Bureaucracy of UN Missions

The CarLog has appeared in my nightmares when an evacuation under gunfire is impeded because teammates not registered to use the CarLog can’t get the cars to start.

Logistical chaos. Despite the critical nature of the work, missions often faced significant logistical challenges. Equipment was frequently inadequate, missing, or broken upon arrival, requiring constant improvisation and workarounds in the field.

Administrative hurdles. Dealing with UN bureaucracy added layers of frustration, from obtaining necessary IDs and licenses to navigating complex procedures and dealing with inconsistent rules. Simple tasks could become time-consuming ordeals due to administrative inefficiencies.

Security complexities. While military escorts and guards provided protection, their presence sometimes created new problems, such as restrictions on movement, communication breakdowns, or even instances where the protectors themselves posed a threat or caused delays. The need for security added another layer of stress and unpredictability.

6. Connecting with the Living: Families and Survivors

She changed everything for me, because she put our time there into some perspective.

Witnessing grief. Interacting with survivors and family members, such as at Clothing Days or graveside visits, brought the human cost of the atrocities into sharp focus. Seeing their pain and their desperate need for answers or closure was profoundly moving, challenging the forensic team's emotional distance.

Providing answers. The ultimate goal of identification is to return remains to families, offering a tangible link to their missing loved ones and facilitating the grieving process. Even presumptive identifications based on clothing or artifacts provided a measure of solace and confirmation for those who had waited years for news.

Impact on communities. The work extended beyond individual families, contributing to the collective memory and historical truth of affected communities. Exhuming graves and documenting the dead challenged denial and propaganda, helping to establish a shared understanding of what happened and strengthening social ties.

7. Finding Profound Purpose Amidst Unspeakable Horror

I see not just death—about which I can do nothing—but bones and teeth and hair, which I can do something about...

Action over despair. Faced with overwhelming death and destruction, the author found purpose in the concrete tasks of forensic investigation. Focusing on the scientific work—recovering, analyzing, and documenting remains—provided a sense of agency and contribution in a situation where the tragedy itself was immutable.

Restoring dignity. By carefully exhuming and analyzing bodies, the team was, in a sense, restoring a measure of dignity to the deceased. Laying out bones in anatomical position or documenting personal artifacts acknowledged their individuality and humanity, countering the dehumanization inherent in mass murder and clandestine burial.

Belief in impact. The conviction that the work served a greater purpose—contributing to justice, historical truth, and the healing of communities—fueled perseverance. Despite the emotional and physical toll, the belief that bones could talk and hold perpetrators accountable provided a powerful motivation to continue.

8. The Evolving Landscape of International Forensic Investigation

I did it long enough to see the evolution of forensic investigation in the international setting, and for the setting to change around us.

From makeshift to structured. Over the course of several missions, the infrastructure and procedures for international forensic work evolved significantly. Early missions in Rwanda relied on inflatable tents and improvised equipment, while later missions in Kosovo benefited from purpose-built morgues with advanced facilities.

Adapting to context. The nature of the graves and the challenges varied across countries. Rwanda presented large mass graves of women and children killed by blunt/sharp force, Bosnia involved mass graves of men with gunshot wounds and tied hands, and Kosovo featured smaller, scattered graves, often with evidence of postmortem interference.

Increased recognition. Forensic science gained increasing recognition and importance within the international justice system. Initially viewed with skepticism by some investigators, its value in providing objective evidence and corroborating witness testimony became widely accepted, setting standards for future war crimes prosecutions.

9. Team Cohesion and Peer Support are Essential Lifelines

Team identity was a major part of what makes this work bearable for me.

Shared experience. Working in mass graves creates a unique bond among team members who share the intense physical, emotional, and sensory experiences. This shared reality fosters mutual understanding and support that is difficult to find elsewhere.

Importance of trust. In dangerous or challenging environments, relying on teammates for safety, logistical support, and professional collaboration is crucial. Trust in colleagues' competence and commitment is essential for the team's effectiveness and individual well-being.

Informal support systems. While formal psychosocial support was sometimes available, informal peer support was often the most immediate and impactful. Simple acts of kindness, shared humor, or just being present for one another helped mitigate stress and maintain morale during difficult times.

10. Small Artifacts Tell Powerful Stories of Life and Identity

These are the signs of life in a grave, like the woman’s pink necklace, all speaking toward individuality and identity...

Humanizing details. Personal belongings found with bodies, such as jewelry, clothing, keys, or even a child's pacifier or marbles, offer poignant glimpses into the victims' lives. These small items humanize the remains and connect them to their past identities and relationships.

Evidence of circumstances. Artifacts can also provide clues about the circumstances of death or the victims' attempts to survive. Wearing multiple layers of clothing suggested people were preparing to flee, while hidden items like identity cards or X-rays hinted at a desire to be identified if killed.

Catalysts for identification. While often considered only presumptive evidence, artifacts can be powerful triggers for recognition by family members. In some cases, a specific item, like a unique piece of clothing or a front-door key, was the crucial detail that allowed a relative to accept an identification.

11. Stark Contrasts Between Life and Death in War Zones

Outdoors, two men had just been murdered, but indoors, I was being encouraged to eat something by people who seemed to be smiling.

Juxtaposition of realities. Living and working in post-conflict zones meant constantly encountering the jarring contrast between the remnants of violence and the continuation of everyday life. Shelled buildings stood next to rebuilt homes, and scenes of death were juxtaposed with markets, cafes, and social gatherings.

Normalization of the abnormal. Over time, exposure to violence and its aftermath could lead to a disturbing sense of normalization, where events like public executions were met with indifference by some. This challenged the author's own reactions and highlighted the psychological impact of prolonged exposure to trauma.

Finding beauty amidst ruin. Despite the pervasive signs of destruction and death, moments of unexpected beauty and human resilience were also present. Picturesque landscapes, vibrant flowers, the laughter of children, or simple acts of kindness provided counterpoints to the grim work and offered glimpses of hope.

12. The Enduring Impact of Bearing Witness

My life After had begun.

Post-mission adjustment. Returning home after missions was often difficult, marked by feelings of alienation, hypervigilance, and a struggle to reintegrate into normal life. The experiences fundamentally altered the author's perspective on the world and her place in it.

Lasting memories and dreams. The images, sounds, and smells of the graves and the stories of the victims and survivors lingered, manifesting in vivid dreams and intrusive thoughts. These persistent recollections underscored the deep personal impact of bearing witness to mass atrocities.

Continued connection. The work created a lasting, almost metaphysical connection to the people exhumed and their families. This sense of being part of a continuum of history and contributing to healing and truth-telling provided a powerful, enduring source of meaning despite the inherent difficulties and personal cost.

Last updated: May 10, 2025