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«BULLETIN OF THE IRKUTSK STATE UNIVERSITY. GEOARCHAEOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY, AND ANTHROPOLOGY SERIES»
ISSN 2227-2380 (Print)

List of issues > «Geoarchaeology, Ethnology, and Anthropology Series». 2026. Vol 55

Relational Database for 3D Cranial Models in the Identification of Red Army Personnel Recovered during Field Exhumations

Full text (russian)
Author(s)

A. B. Spasibko1, 2, R. M. Galeev1, T. N. Astafieva3

1Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology RAS, Moscow, Russian Federation

2Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk, Russian Federation

3All-Russian Public Movement “Search Movement of Russia”, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract
Each year, search expeditions in the Russian Federation recover thousands of unidentifiable human remains of Soviet soldiers from the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945). Conventional identification methods – reliant upon archival records, personal effects, and osteological examination – are frequently inadequate when skeletal material is fragmented or lacks associated artefacts. This paper presents the concept and architecture of a specialised relational database designed to store and process three‑dimensional (3D) models of cranial remains recovered during exhumation campaigns. The system addresses two fundamental shortcomings: (1) the absence of a centralised digital repository for post‑excavation osteological data, and (2) the incompatibility of existing archival databases with high‑resolution 3D model integration. Recent advances in photogrammetry and structured‑light scanning now permit the acquisition of accurate digital cranial replicas directly in the field, thereby mitigating the irreversible loss of primary evidence following reburial. Following a comparative evaluation of relational and non‑relational database management systems, the study adopts a relational (SQL) model – privileging data integrity, standardised metadata management, and efficient complex querying. The proposed architecture employs a hybrid storage strategy: structured attribute data (expedition metadata, geospatial coordinates, excavation logs, and osteometric variables) reside in a relational DBMS, whereas large binary 3D model files are stored externally in a scalable repository, linked via persistent unique identifiers. These decoupling preserves system responsiveness while accommodating the voluminous storage demands of high‑resolution cranial scans. The resulting system establishes a unified digital workspace for interdisciplinary collaboration among archaeologists, physical anthropologists, forensic practitioners, and volunteer search teams. By standardizing the documentation and comparative analysis of 3D cranial morphology alongside contextual field data, the proposed database offers a replicable framework for enhancing both the efficiency and scientific validity of identification protocols in contemporary conflict archaeology.
About the Authors

Spasibko Aleksandra Borisovna, Research Intern, N. N. Miklouho-Maclay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology RAS; 32a, Leninsky ave., Moscow, Almaty, 119334, Russian Federation, Junior Researcher, Scientific Research Center “Baikal Region”, Laboratory of Geoarchaeology of Baikal Siberia, Irkutsk State University; 1, K. Marx st., Irkutsk, 664003, Russian Federation e-mail: alekspbor@gmail.com 

Galeev Ravil Marvetovich, Research Scientist, N. N. Miklouho-Maclay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology RAS; 32a, Leninsky ave., Moscow, 119334, Russian Federation e-mail: ravil.galeev@gmail.com 

Astafieva Tatyana Nikolaevna, Member of the Coordinating Council, All-Russian Public Movement “Search Movement of Russia”; 18, Lestev st., Moscow, 115162, Russian Federation e-mail: astaf-eva@mail.ru

For citation
Spasibko A. B., Galeev R. M., Astafieva T. N. Relational Database for 3D Cranial Models in the Identification of Red Army Personnel Recovered during Field Exhumations. Bulletin of the Irkutsk State University. Geoarchaeology, Ethnology, and Anthropology Series. 2026, Vol. 55, pp. 67–78. https://doi.org/10.26516/2227-2380.2026.55.67 (In Russ.)
Keywords
relational databases, Red Army, 3D cranial model, personal identification, field exhumations.
UDC
004.652.4:343.98.065:355.48(47)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26516/2227-2380.2026.55.67
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