This is not the first time a melting glacier has revealed secrets. Last year, in Tyrol and Pakistan, human remains were recovered after several decades because the glaciers are shrinking.
“When our international colleagues find human remains, they ask us to check our open files to see if there are any descriptions of individuals that might match details from the remains found, such as documents, clothing or similar items,” says Van Loock. The fact that such documents remain well-preserved after 34 years depends on the circumstances, he says.
“We have numerous examples where documentation turns up years after the time of disappearance. For example, in a vehicle recovered from the water during a search operation, where we find vehicle documents in the glove compartment that are in fairly good condition. These allow us to identify a vehicle and, consequently, to establish a person’s identity.”