SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE CONCERNING THE AREAS OF PREPLANNING (I.E., ARRANGING TO HAVE EXPERTS ON CALL), SURFACE PROCESSING AND EXCAVATION, REMOVAL AND EXAMINATION OF THE CORPSE, VISUAL SEARCHING TECHNIQUES, AND THE USE OF MECHANICAL AIDS. WHILE THE INVESTIGATION ITSELF IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POLICE INVESTIGATOR, HE OR SHE SHOULD USE THE EXPERTISE OF FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS, FORENSIC ARCHEOLOGISTS, AND FORENSIC ODONTOLOGISTS. EVEN AN ENTOMOLOGIST OR BOTANIST MAY BE ABLE TO HELP IN IDENTIFYING AND EXAMINING EVIDENCE. PROCEDURES FOR THE LOCATING, MAPPING, AND PHOTOGRAPHING OF THE ENTIRE GRAVE SITE ARE DESCRIBED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR CAREFUL DOCUMENTATION OF THE EXCAVATION PROCESS AND OF THE COLLECTION OF THE EVIDENCE. THE AREA BENEATH THE GRAVE SITE SHOULD BE EXAMINED FOR ADDITIONAL CLUES, AND EVEN A DECOMPOSED BODY SHOULD BE EXAMINED BY THE PATHOLOGISTS FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CAUSE OF DEATH. A FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST CAN DETERMINE IF THE REMAINS ARE HUMAN, THE AGE, SEX, RACE, STATURE, AND MEDICAL HISTORY, BUT WILL BE UNABLE TO FIX THE EXACT TIME OF DEATH. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION INCLUDES THE AVAILABILITY OF SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT SUCH AS AIRCRAFT FOR SEARCH PROCEDURES, AND INSTRUMENTS CAPABLE OF DETECTING THE VAPORS PRODUCED BY A DECOMPOSING BODY. THE GATHERING OF EXPERTS MAY INVOLVE DELAY IN THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN INVESTIGATION, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS IS ENHANCED BY THE USE OF THEIR CAPABILITIES. DRAWINGS ILLUSTRATE THE ARTICLE. FOOTNOTES AND SUGGESTED READINGS ARE LISTED. (TWK)