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NMU selects forensic site

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University has selected a location for its forensic cold-weather anthropology site where students can study body decomposition.

The secured outdoor research station would be the eighth worldwide and the first cold-weather facility.

Forensic anthropology is the science in which human remains are studied to determine the cause of death, identify individuals, solve crimes and better understand the complete life cycle.

Alan McEvoy, head of the NMU Department of Anthropology and Sociology, said NMU had looked at several sites, eventually settling on a 2.5-acre site near the Marquette Branch Prison located along U.S. 41. That property, he said, is owned by the Michigan Department of Corrections.

“We had several sites, and settled on this one after lots of discussion,” McEvoy said.

The DOC has given permission for the site to be used for the forensic facility, although the Michigan Legislature must convey the property over to NMU.

“We don’t technically have the property yet, but that’s the intention,” said McEvoy, who said the Legislature most likely will take up the issue in January. The cost is expected to be only $1.

There will be a privacy fence with wire and a security camera as well as an access road, McEvoy said.

Other components to the project include the development of a lab facility and the hiring of a director.

“They would be in charge of developing a donor program and maintaining the lab and working on grants,” McEvoy said. “There’ll be other tasks as well.”

He said the facility is expected to be up and running in the fall semester, although no firm timeline has been set.

The forensic research site would be dedicated to crime scene investigation and have an osteological collection focusing on bones, which would be within the lab facility, he said.

One issue that has come up regarding the site is the odor.

“People are worried about odor,” McEvoy said. “You literally have to be right on top of it in the facility itself.”

He also pointed out that a freshly deposited body doesn’t smell for very long. Also, the Marquette Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is located near the property, can smell far worse and would mask any other odor, he said.

“We see this as a plus for Northern and the community,” McEvoy said. “It’ll help law enforcment and there’ll be potential jobs, and it will bring in research dollars.”

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.

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