A Preliminary Anthropological Analyses of the Casualties from the Korean War during the Year 2000 -2001 Excavation

Park, Sun Joo

Abstract

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary since the Korean War, Korean government has initiated a four -year project beginning from the year 2000 to 2003 to excavate the remains of soldier casualties from the Korean War. During the year 2000 -2001 excavation total 555 casualties (minimum number of individual; MNI) are discovered around the southern parts of Korean peninsula. On the basis of the bone remains anthropological researches including the determination of sex, the estimation of age and stature have been carried out. All casualties are determined as male mainly based on the characteristic features of the innominate bone of the pelvis. Estimation of age is gained from 313 individuals. Over 64% of the casualties were estimated between the age 20 -24 years old and almost 20% were between the age 15 -19 years old. From these data, it has been conformed that the majority of soldiers can be classified as being in a young age category Total 270 individuals are examined for estimation of statures. Approximately 68% of the findings were estimated to have been between the height 160 -170 cm in proportion, and almost 14% of findings were below 160 cm tall. Identifying the remains of casualties are carried out by uncovered belongings, taking note of eyewitness accounts, and applying scientific methods. A total of 34 individual names were identified, and among them only four soldiers have been confirmed. 27 are still in the process of verification, and the rest are nearly impossible to identify.