There are two different types of methods for processing and identifying unknown remains. These methods are presumptive and positive identifications. According to Spitz & Fisher's Medicolegal Investigation of Death: Guidelines for the Application of Pathology to Crime Investigation (2006), Spitz defines the methods of presumptive identification as the recognition of clothing, scars, birthmarks and tattoos that are unique to a specific individual. Spitz also defines definitive identification as one, which utilizes an objective comparison of both antemortem and postmortem information. This type of identification can use any combination of scientific methods (DNA, fingerprinting, dental etc.) in addition to the identification by family members
