I'm Krista Tippett, today we explore the world and work of Mercedes-Dureti, a leading

forensic anthropologist and archaeologist of political crimes.

We explore the emergence of forensic sciences as a tool for human rights.

This is reparation for the living by returning and telling the stories of the dead.

It's extremely rewarding and heartbreaking also how families will tell you what it means for

them to recover the remains of their loved ones. They always say that they can finally find a place

where they can put flowers, that they can rest, that they can now also move on to other things

of their lives. Because what they always say, you know, every country where we go is that their

life have been paralyzed the moment the loved one disappeared. This is speaking of faith, stay with us.

Speaking of faith is supported by the Fetzer Institute, sponsor of Karan Arms Strong's Charter

for Compassion. You can learn more at Fetzer.org. I'm Krista Tippett. Forensic sciences have

entered 21st century imaginations from CSI to Indiana Jones. This hour we explore the human

landscape of this work and its emergence as a tool for global human rights. Mercedes Dureti is a

forensic anthropologist who found her calling as a young woman in her native Argentina,

unearthing the bones and the stories of the thousands of dead and disappeared civilians

from Argentina's so-called dirty war. We'll hear poetry that gives voice to this human

experience by people who've lived through it and will hear the unusual perspective Mercedes

Dureti has gained, on reparation, the human need to bury our dead and the many facets of justice.

From American public media, this is speaking of faith, public radio's conversation about religion,

meaning ethics and ideas. Today, laying the dead to rest, meeting forensic anthropologist Mercedes Dureti.

Mercedes Dureti is a co-founder and leading figure of the Argentine forensic anthropology team.

Over the past three decades, this organization has grown from six to 47 members with projects

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