Forensic taphonomy : the postmortem fate of human remains

Forensic Taphonomy: The Postmortem Fate of Human Remains......Page 1
SECTION I: Taphonomy in the Forensic Context......Page 3
SECTION II: Modifications of Soft Tissue, Bone, and Associated Materials......Page 4
SECTION III: Scavenged Remains......Page 9
SECTION IV: Buried and Protected Remains......Page 10
SECTION V: Remains in Water......Page 12
Preface......Page 14
References......Page 15
Foreword......Page 16
The Editors......Page 19
Contributors......Page 21
Acknowledgments......Page 25
Anthropological Archaeology and the Forensic Sciences......Page 26
Introduction......Page 27
Recovery......Page 28
Recording......Page 29
Human Remains......Page 30
Firearms and Bullets......Page 31
The Koreme Execution Site: A Modern Crime Scene Investigation Using Archaeological Techniques......Page 33
Method......Page 34
Conclusions......Page 35
References......Page 36
Introduction......Page 38
Application of Archaeological Methods to Forensic Investigation......Page 39
The Successful Search Methodologies......Page 40
Phase III: Context and the Recovery......Page 42
Archeological Excavation Principles......Page 44
Successful Recovery Methodologies: Buried Human Remains......Page 45
Recovery of Human Remains at Multiple Fatality Incidents......Page 47
Benefits of Forensic Anthropologist Involvement during the Recovery Phase......Page 48
Phase II: Determination of Significance......Page 41
Reconstructions of Postmortem Processes......Page 49
Report Preparation......Page 51
Search and Evaluation......Page 52
Site Investigation Following Removal of Remains......Page 53
Mass Fatality Incident......Page 54
Discussion......Page 56
References......Page 58
Introduction......Page 64
Discovery of Evidence......Page 65
A Case Study......Page 66
Taphonomic Questions Addressed......Page 72
References......Page 73
Taphonomic Processes......Page 75
Animal Chewing and Other Causes of Bone Breakage......Page 76
Forensic Anthropology Applications......Page 77
Estimation of Postmortem Interval......Page 78
Sequence of Postmortem Events......Page 79
The Lady in the Cistern......Page 80
Carl Weiss......Page 81
Goochland, Virginia......Page 82
Bones from the Cemetery: Recent or Old?......Page 84
References......Page 85
Introduction......Page 89
Biochemistry......Page 90
Genetic Variation and Repetitive DNA......Page 91
Mitochondrial DNA......Page 92
“Fingerprinting? by RFLP Analysis......Page 93
Polymerase Chain Reaction......Page 94
Specific Techniques of PCR Analysis......Page 95
DNA Recovery from Cadaveric Tissues......Page 97
Biological Fluid Stains......Page 98
Bone and Teeth......Page 99
Successes and Applications of Ancient DNA Analysis......Page 100
Long-Term Degradation and Questioned Authenticity......Page 102
Characteristics of Ancient DNA......Page 103
Correlation with Bone Morphology......Page 104
Conclusion......Page 105
References......Page 106
Materials and Methods......Page 119
Classification of Decay Stages......Page 120
Interval Since Death......Page 121
Results......Page 122
Early Decomposition......Page 123
Skeletonization......Page 124
Insect Activity......Page 125
Carnivore and Scavenger Activity......Page 126
Seasonal, Geographic, and Microenvironmental Differences......Page 127
Forensic Implications......Page 128
References......Page 129
Determination of Death and Early Postmortem Changes......Page 131
Late Postmortem Changes......Page 132
Tissue Changes......Page 133
Modifications of the Decomposition Process......Page 136
Skeletonization......Page 139
Autopsy of the Decomposed Body......Page 140
References......Page 143
Introduction......Page 145
Physical Characteristics of the Remains......Page 146
Artifacts Associated with the Remains......Page 147
References......Page 149
Postmortem Preservation by Freezing......Page 151
Conditions of Bacterial Growth......Page 152
Effects of Freezing on Soil and Environmental Conditions......Page 154
Baseline......Page 155
Day Six......Page 156
Decomposition and Disarticulation Patterns......Page 157
Effects of Freezing and Thawing on Soft Tissue: Case Illustration......Page 158
References......Page 159
Introduction......Page 161
First Week Fresh to Bloated......Page 163
First Decade Bone Breakdown......Page 164
References......Page 165
General Structures and Types of Bones......Page 167
Osteoblasts......Page 168
Intercellular Bone Matrix......Page 169
Inorganic Materials......Page 170
Lamellar Bone......Page 171
External and Internal Basic Lamellae......Page 174
Interstitial Lamellae......Page 175
Periosteum......Page 176
Growth and Histogenesis of Bone......Page 177
References......Page 178
Introduction......Page 180
Determination of Alterations in the Compact Bone Tissue of the Long Tubular Bones due to Age......Page 181
Problems Arising from the Time the Bones Lie in the Earth and Determination of Postmortem Damage .........Page 182
Damage Caused by Roots of Plants......Page 185
Damage due to Fungi, Algae and Bacteria......Page 187
Damage Done by Insects and Their Larvae......Page 188
Determination of Traces of Disease and How to Distinguish Them from Postmortem Alterations in the.........Page 191
Determination of Effects of Heat and Fire on Bones......Page 198
Examination of Bone and Soil in Situ......Page 199
Conclusions......Page 200
References......Page 202
Bone Weathering......Page 206
Characteristics of Prehistoric Bone Assemblages......Page 208
Skeletal Element......Page 209
Microenvironment......Page 210
Years Since Death......Page 211
Exposure Duration......Page 212
Accumulation History......Page 214
Spatial Data......Page 220
Discussion......Page 223
Conclusions......Page 225
References......Page 226
Introduction......Page 231
Grave Environment and Skeletal Preservation......Page 233
Preservation by Bone and Age at Death......Page 236
Grave Disturbance......Page 237
Grave Floor Composition and Acidity......Page 240
Polar Bear Scavenging and Predation......Page 241
Conclusions......Page 243
References......Page 244
Introduction......Page 245
Human Taphonomic Factors......Page 246
Vivianite Coloring......Page 247
Bone Trading......Page 248
Incompetence or Intent......Page 253
Conclusions......Page 254
References......Page 255
Introduction......Page 257
Color Change......Page 258
Shrinkage and Deformation......Page 259
Fracture Patterns......Page 260
Histological Characteristics......Page 261
X-Ray Diffraction......Page 262
Scanning Electron Microscopy......Page 263
Age Estimation......Page 264
Sex Estimation......Page 265
Methodology of Medicolegal Community......Page 266
Acknowledgments......Page 268
References......Page 269
Introduction......Page 276
Bone Scan Procedures and Their Assumptions......Page 277
Bone Density Calculations......Page 280
Results......Page 281
Humerus......Page 289
Femur......Page 290
Tibia......Page 292
Fibula......Page 293
Forensic and Archaeological Implications......Page 294
References......Page 296
Introduction......Page 299
Development of the Immature Cranium and Pseudotrauma......Page 300
Case 2......Page 303
Archaeological Examples......Page 305
Discussion......Page 308
Conclusions......Page 311
References Cited......Page 312
The Role of Trace Evidence......Page 317
Hair as Forensic Evidence......Page 318
Textile Fibers as Trace Evidence......Page 324
Case 1......Page 327
Case 3......Page 328
References......Page 329
Evidence......Page 332
Plant Characteristics......Page 333
Plant Dispersal......Page 334
Stomach Contents......Page 335
DNA......Page 336
Evidence Collection......Page 337
Case 1......Page 338
Case 4......Page 339
Case 2......Page 340
References......Page 341
Case 1......Page 343
Case 2......Page 344
Case 3......Page 345
Case 4......Page 347
Case 5......Page 348
Discussion......Page 349
Conclusion......Page 352
References......Page 353
Case Examples......Page 355
Discussion......Page 360
References......Page 362
Introduction......Page 365
Case 2......Page 368
Case 3......Page 369
Case 5......Page 370
Discussion......Page 371
References......Page 373
Background......Page 375
History and Background of Forensic Entomology......Page 376
Time Since Death......Page 379
Evidence of Trauma......Page 380
Other Types of Entomological Determinations......Page 381
The Common Fly Species......Page 382
The Dipteran Life Cycle and Its Development......Page 384
Other Fly Groups at the Death Scene......Page 387
Beetles at the Death Scene......Page 389
Other Arthropods Found at the Death Scene......Page 390
Accessibility of the Corpse......Page 391
Artifacts of Maggots on the Body and at the Scene......Page 392
Prevalence of Beetle Peritrophic Membrane......Page 393
Entomological Procedures......Page 396
Visual Observations and Notations of the Scene......Page 397
Climatological and Temperature Data......Page 398
Acquisition and Preservation of Entomological Evidence at the Scene......Page 399
Acquisition and Preservation of Entomological Evidence at Autopsy......Page 400
Qualifications of Forensic Entomologists......Page 401
References......Page 402
Material......Page 409
Tiger Sharks......Page 410
Sex......Page 411
Age......Page 412
Hairs......Page 413
Summary......Page 414
References......Page 415
Preservation of Archaeological Burials in Louisiana......Page 417
Preservation of Forensic Burials in Louisiana......Page 418
Case 2......Page 419
Discussion......Page 420
Survey of Practicing Forensic Anthropologists......Page 421
References......Page 426
Desiccation and Mummification......Page 430
Remains in Water......Page 431
Human Actions Leading to Soft Tissue Preservation......Page 432
Preserved Remains from Forensic Contexts......Page 433
History of Embalming, Autopsy, and Anatomical Preparation......Page 434
Autopsies in Historic America......Page 435
Case Study: Anatomically Preserved Remains in a Forensic Context......Page 436
Case Study: Embalmed Remains in an Historic Context......Page 437
Case Study: The Hardin Cemetery Flood Disaster......Page 438
References......Page 439
Introduction......Page 443
Location......Page 444
Geology......Page 445
Geophysics......Page 448
Aerial Photography......Page 449
Botany......Page 450
Geophysics......Page 451
Decompostion Dogs......Page 452
Conclusions......Page 453
References......Page 454
Development of the Cast Iron Burial Case......Page 456
Development of Embalming......Page 457
Cast Iron Coffin Burials: Incidence and Preservation......Page 458
Louisiana Burial......Page 460
Virginia Burial......Page 461
Tennessee Burial......Page 463
Maryland Burial......Page 465
Preservation in Intact Iron Coffin Burials......Page 467
Conclusion......Page 469
References......Page 470
Introduction......Page 472
Discussion......Page 474
Summary......Page 476
References......Page 477
Lake Effects......Page 478
Adipocere Formation......Page 479
Case Description......Page 480
Meteorological Data......Page 481
Summary......Page 482
References......Page 483
Introduction......Page 485
Independent Variables Influencing Postmortem Condition......Page 486
Marine Scavengers......Page 487
Fishes as Scavengers......Page 488
Arthropod Scavengers......Page 489
Molluscan Scavengers......Page 490
Echinoderm Scavengers......Page 492
Decomposition of Submerged Remains......Page 494
The Role of Sessile Invertebrates......Page 496
Barnacle Growth......Page 499
Bryozoans......Page 501
The Gulf of Maine......Page 502
The Recovery of Human Remains from the Sea by Commercial Fishing Vessels......Page 503
Place of Death and Taphonomic History......Page 504
Phase 1: Loss of Soft Tissue......Page 505
Phase 2: Bone Modification......Page 511
References......Page 517
Stages of Decomposition in Water......Page 523
Materials and Methods......Page 525
Results......Page 526
Discussion......Page 528
References......Page 531
Scope of Problem......Page 532
Case Report from Rhode Island......Page 533
Case Reports from Florida......Page 535
Discussion......Page 537
Conclusion......Page 538
References......Page 539
Introduction......Page 541
Section I: Introduction: Taphonomy in the Forensic Context......Page 540
The Fidelity of Inference......Page 542
Comments About the History of Taphonomic Theory and Models......Page 544
A Forensic Taphonomic Model......Page 546
Postmortem Interval......Page 547
Awareness of Investigator Bias......Page 548
The Present State of Taphonomic “Information? in Forensic Science......Page 549
References......Page 550
References......Page 568
Section II: Modifications of Soft Tissue, Bone, and Associated Materials......Page 555
Temperature......Page 556
Acidity and Alkalinity......Page 557
Autolysis and Cell Death......Page 558
Stage 1......Page 559
The Order of Tissue Decomposition......Page 560
Rigor Mortis......Page 561
Putrefactive Effects......Page 562
Adipocere Formation......Page 564
Initial Factors......Page 567
SECTION III: Scavenged Remains......Page 572
Disarticulation and Soft Tissue Consumption......Page 573
Damage to Bone......Page 579
Survivorship and Recovery Frequencies of Skeletal Elements......Page 581
Variables that Affect Scavenging of Human Remains......Page 583
Locating Remains......Page 584
References......Page 585
Section IV: Buried and Protected Remains......Page 588
Decomposition of Buried and Submerged Bodies......Page 589
Anomalies of Decomposition and Artifactual Preservation......Page 592
Injuries Due to Insect and Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Life......Page 594
References......Page 596
Section V: Remains in Water......Page 598
Introduction......Page 599
Phase 1 Transport......Page 600
Phase 2 Transport......Page 602
Phase 3 Transport......Page 603
Case Studies......Page 604
Case 1......Page 605
Case 2......Page 606
Case 4......Page 607
Abrasion and Damage......Page 608
General Modifications......Page 610
Trait Distribution and Test Cases......Page 612
Discussion......Page 614
Conclusions......Page 616
References......Page 618
Linking Taphonomy and Forensic Anthropology......Page 623
Areas of Taphonomy Applicable to Forensic Anthropology......Page 625
Research Methods and Trends in Forensic Taphonomy......Page 627
References......Page 628