Gunshot Residue (GSR) is a type of physical trace evidence that is released 
when a gun is fired and may directly place an individual at the scene of weapons discharge. The inorganic particles are typically found on the hands or clothing of people in the environment and are highly durable heavy metals that form part of the ammunition (Schwoeble and Exline, 2000) .
GSR could be present on the deceased and on the assailants clothing and may be identifiable even if the body is partly or totally decomposed. Clothing is a good medium for the preservation of GSR and it will remain there even if long periods of time have elapsed between the moment of shooting and the time of collection (Schwoeble and Exline, 2000) .
The preservation of clothing obtained at a crime scene and from potential suspects is an important consideration. Care should be taken not to overly handle clothing in order to minimise particle loss (Schwoeble and Exline, 2000) and this highlights the importance for the correct recovery of the evidence at the scene (i.e. by a forensic archaeologist) for further investigation in the laboratory. A misconception that should not be overlooked is, simply because GSR cannot be seen with the naked eye it should not be assumed that it is not there (Schwoeble and Exline, 2000).
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