FAR History

Forensic Archaeology Recovery (FAR) formed as a direct response to the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster in New York City, September 11, 2001. It was recognized soon after the event that human remains and significant debris were widely scattered over areas of lower Manhattan away from the center of collapse (known as "ground zero"). Efforts were begun to notify the authorities and to initiate archaeologically-controlled forensic recoveries of these remains in order to place them in custody. Eventually an invitation was issued by the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) for a FAR team to perform a trial recovery excavation at a location close to "ground zero". Although the immediate results of the trial were inconclusive, this effort provided a demonstration of FAR's ability to train, deploy, and conduct forensic recoveries up to acceptable standards required by the OCME. In the months that followed FAR's work at the WTC on March 1-2, 2002, human remains were found in numerous locations throughout the area of lower Manhattan surrounding the WTC, as predicted by FAR.

FAR volunteer training continued. One year later, FAR was activated by the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal's Office to perform forensic recoveries at "The Station" Nightclub fire scene in West Warwick, RI. FAR worked there from February 26 through March 9, 2003. The recoveries were effective, due in large measure to the timely callup and to support from local law-enforcement and emergency-services agencies. The results for the victims' families and for the community were positive and met our expectations. This disaster killed 100 people and left almost 200 others severely burned, some of whom were known to the FAR volunteers.