In a groundbreaking effort to locate individuals who have disappeared amid decades of drug cartel violence, researchers in Mexico are dressing pigs in clothing and burying them in various conditions. This interesting approach, which is a larger project. Beyond that, the collaborative investigation project seeks to improve techniques used to locate clandestine graves, which sadly have become increasingly common across the region.
In 2023, a new Collaborative began. It unites Guadalajara University, Mexico’s National Autonomous University, the University of Oxford, and the Jalisco Search Commission as collaborative coequals. Pigs are used in the project as stand-ins for humans, as their genetic makeup is surprisingly similar. As a matter of fact, pigs are like us, genetically! Scientists are particularly interested in how quickly these creatures decompose. They hope this can help them gather useful information that can inform real-world search efforts for the more than 130,000 people missing and registered as such in Mexico.
Research Methodology and Techniques
The researchers have been undertaking their studies at a long-term study site in Zapopan, Mexico. Here, the pigs are buried under different conditions to provide a wide array of burial/exposure scenarios to study. The researchers consider each grave a “micro ecosystem.” This unexpected approach gives them some important hints that would let them find out what had happened to people that had gone missing.
To deepen their understanding even further, the team is using a three-pronged approach of satellite analysis, geological assessment, and geospatial drones. These advanced technologies, and methods developed using them, enable researchers to generate intricate maps and models of burial sites. As a result, they’re better able to recognize patterns and identify potential hidden graves.
“What good is science or technology if it doesn’t solve problems?” – José Luis Silván
José Luis Silván, coordinator of the mapping project at CentroGeo, expresses urgency. He argues that we need to put scientific knowledge into practice today, rather than waiting 10 or 20 years for it to ripen on the vine. The study’s goal is to combine scientific techniques with an in-depth knowledge of drug cartel activities. This bipartisan, multi-agency approach will provide a robust strategy for finding the missing.
Discovering New Clues from Decomposing Pigs
While the pigs are rotting in their graves, researchers pay attention to everything around the graves. They explore new insect, plant, and soil samples that were collected from both human and pig graves. Their overall aim is to determine which indicators can be used to indicate possible or probable clandestine burials.
She has seen rare plants grow out of cemeteries, including, anecdotal Silván warns, endangered flora. That’s partly because as organic material decomposes, it changes the soil’s chemistry. He didn’t account for flowers blooming underneath due to phosphorous released through upwellings at the surface. This was an unusual and unexpected signal, as they did not observe this in past years.
“Flowers came up because of the phosphorous at the surface, we didn’t see that last year.” – José Luis Silván
The research team has already accomplished some tremendous progress at discovering how these ecosystems operate. Such insights are critical for relating biological changes to forensic human remains, and ultimately for informing search efforts to recover them.
The Bigger Picture: Addressing the Crisis of Missing Persons
Since 2007, the Jalisco Search Commission has found more than 6,000 clandestine graves. This endeavor renders them a powerful player in addressing the pervasive crisis of missing persons in Mexico. Jalisco has the most missing people in the country, with just over 15,500 cases. This shocking statistic makes it clear how important this collaborative research effort is expected to be.
Derek Congram, a Canadian forensic anthropologist with a strong background in geographic information systems. His knowledge and experience are now an incredible motivation behind this cutting-edge initiative. He highlights that “ninety percent of searches are resolved with a good witness and digging,” emphasizing the importance of combining traditional search techniques with modern scientific approaches.
“No other country is pushing so strongly, so creatively.” – Derek Congram
From an art perspective, the project deals with finding the missing. It is meant to provide closure to families impacted by these tragedies. Maribel Cedeño, who has become an expert in finding bodies through her work with the Jalisco Search Commission, reflects on her experiences.
“I never imagined being in this situation, finding bodies, becoming such an expert.” – Maribel Cedeño
