Chapter 2 - A review of research concerning the estimation of time since death in decomposed bodies in the later stages of decomposition

Abstract

This chapter describes methods of estimating time since death (TSD) firstly during the stages of autolysis and putrefaction when temperature, moisture, insects, depth of burial and scavenging are important factors, secondly it describes factors in the later stages of putrefaction when forensic entomology is often the only method available and finally at the stage of skeletonisation when estimation is extremely difficult. In this later stage, estimating morphological and microscopic changes as well as physicochemical changes becomes important. The use of radioactive isotopes is then outlined before a description of recent research into the development of a numerical grading is given.