A comparison of maceration methods for the preparation of infant skeletal remains for forensic anthropological analysis

Abstract

Very little literature currently exists prescribing which maceration method to use when preparing infant human remains, resulting in bone quality that is suitable for forensic anthropological analysis. The aim of the study was to test five maceration methods to determine which is most suitable for infant remains for forensic anthropological analysis. The sample included five neonate pig carcasses (Sus scrofa domesticus), ranging between one to three days old. Five maceration methods were tested on the pig carcasses (one pig per maceration method) to determine their effectiveness. The methods included invertebrate maceration by meal worms, chemical maceration by bleach, chemical maceration by borax solution, enzymatic maceration by laundry detergent and sodium carbonate solution, and chemical maceration by sodium hypochlorite. A scoring method was created to assess the effectiveness of each maceration method. Invertebrate maceration and chemical maceration using bleach were the least successful methods of maceration (total maceration score = 8 respectively). Chemical maceration using borax and chemical maceration using sodium hypochlorite achieved complete maceration of the skeletal remains; however, they both resulted in artifacts that are unsuitable for forensic analysis (total maceration score = 14 respectively). Enzymatic maceration using laundry detergent and sodium carbonate was the most successful method (total maceration score = 17). The detergent technique subsequently successfully macerated all five sets of infant human remains. This study has validated that the enzymatic maceration technique using laundry detergent and sodium carbonate can be used to effectively macerate the remains of infant skeletal remains for forensic anthropological analysis.