New Books Network Alexa Hagerty, "Still Life with Bones: Genocide, Forensics, and What Remains" (Crown, 2023)
Jan 6, 2026
In this engaging discussion, Alexa Hagerty, an anthropologist and author of "Still Life with Bones," shares her insights on forensic anthropology and its role in uncovering stories of genocide. She reveals how bones can convey identity and trauma, linking personal histories to broader narratives of violence. Hagerty explains the complex process of exhumation and the collaboration with families, transforming grief into meaningful rituals. She also reflects on the ethical dilemmas in her work and the importance of accessible storytelling in anthropology.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Field Shift Born From A Casual Conversation
- Alexa Hagerty discovered her interest in forensic exhumation while researching human trafficking in Argentina.
- A casual conversation with an Argentine forensics team member drew her into the field and changed her dissertation plans.
How Grave Sites Are Located
- Grave sites are located by local testimony, landscape clues, or high-tech tools when available.
- Hagerty describes trenches, disturbed soil, flora cues, and occasional use of ground-penetrating radar or satellite imagery.
Exhumation Is Slow, Painstaking Work
- Exhumation is intensely labor-intensive and methodical, from trenching to lab articulation and DNA sampling.
- Every step (photographs, drawings, bone sawing) preserves evidentiary value and requires community DNA reference samples.
