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Identifying a Burns Victim 150 Years After Death

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Abstract

The redevelopment of a football stadium in Brisbane, Australia provided the opportunity to archaeologically salvage the remains of 397 colonial inhabitants from a cemetery that was in use between 1843 and 1875. No burial registers survived and DNA testing of the remains failed. One person, Eliza Coffey, who burned to death in 1863, has been identified through the forensic analysis of a small piece of textile found in the coffin and extensive archival research.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all those involved in the excavations of the North Brisbane Burial Ground, particular Dr Kevin Rains and Dr Tam Smith. We also thank Dr Hilda Maclean, The University of Queensland, Mr Peter Kuhn, Friends of Toowong Cemetery, and Mrs Roz Kuss, Caloundra Family History Research Inc, for their assistance with various aspects of the family history component of this research.

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Correspondence to Jonathan Prangnell.

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Prangnell, J., McGowan, G. Identifying a Burns Victim 150 Years After Death. Int J Histor Archaeol 25, 1–13 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10761-020-00542-y

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