exhumation
Unearthing buried remains
Exhumation is the digging up of something buried, especially a corpse.
Bodies are exhumed for autopsies, reburial, or criminal investigations: The court ordered an exhumation to determine the true cause of death.
Figuratively, exhumation means bringing forgotten things back to light: the exhumation of long-buried family secrets.
Excavating a grave
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- remainsContinues in place
- coronerPublic death investigator
- pathologistDisease diagnosis specialist
DNA analysis · cause of death · evidence · identification · reburial · cadaver · decomposition · toxicology
Act of unearthing
- burial siteInterment location
- tombUnderground chamber for remains
- moundHeaped earth formation
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
artifacts · carbon-dating · ancient · skeletal remains · grave goods · necropolis · cairn · sarcophagus
Violating something sacred
- sacrilegeViolation of the hallowed
- violationBreaking of rules
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- defilementAct of corrupting purity
trespass · vandalism · resurrection men · taboo · pillaging · outrage · disrespect · intrusion
Binding judicial directive
- judicialOf courts and judges
- probateWill validation proceedings
- next of kinNearest living family members
- permitOfficial written authorization
consent · estate · decedent · litigation · executor · inheritance · heirship · death certificate
Discovering something hidden
- uncoveringRevealing something hidden
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- resurfacingComing up again
- dredging upRetrieving from below
bringing to light · revival · rediscovery · disclosure · exposing · unveiling · reopening · revisiting
disinterment
Excavating a grave
pathologist · DNA analysis · cause of death · evidence · identification · reburial · cadaver · decomposition · toxicology · crime scene
excavation
Act of unearthing
- burial siteInterment location
- tombUnderground chamber for remains
- moundHeaped earth formation
stratigraphy · artifacts · carbon-dating · ancient · skeletal remains · grave goods · necropolis · cairn · sarcophagus · barrow
desecration
Violating something sacred
- sacrilegeViolation of the hallowed
- violationBreaking of rules
- profanationViolation of sanctity
defilement · trespass · vandalism · resurrection men · taboo · pillaging · outrage · disrespect · intrusion
court order
Binding judicial directive
- judicialOf courts and judges
- probateWill validation proceedings
- next of kinNearest living family members
permit · consent · estate · decedent · litigation · executor · inheritance · heirship · death certificate · paternity
unearthing
Discovering something hidden
- uncoveringRevealing something hidden
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- resurfacingComing up again
bringing to light · dredging up · revival · rediscovery · disclosure · exposing · unveiling · reopening · revisiting
- funeralsfuneral, burial, cremation, casket, coffin
- mortalitydeath, death knell, deceased, death rate, death acceptance
- forensicsDNA, DNA analysis, fingerprints, forensics, criminalistics
- death lawdeath certificate, death certificates, death tax, death penalty, death benefits
- funeral ritesfuneral, bury, burial, funeral mass, burial rites
- burial archaeologyburials, graves, tombs, burial sites, burial mounds
exhumationburial
Placing deceased underground
inhumation · interment · entombment · sepulture · reburial
exhumationburial
Placing deceased underground
concealment · covering · sealing · eternal rest · hiding