Chapter 5 - Forensic taphonomy

Abstract

Forensic taphonomy is the study of postmortem processes, which affect the preservation and recovery of human remains and help reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the death event. Many taphonomic processes affect the state of preservation of remains, including decomposition, diagenesis, scavenging, transport by physical and/or natural forces, and human action. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and pH also influence the state of preservation. Human remains go through a series of decompositional changes that are somewhat predictable, with temperature being the primary factor responsible for the rate of decomposition. Forensic anthropologists study human decomposition to understand which taphonomic agents affected human remains, to help develop appropriate and effective search and recovery strategies, to aid in reconstructing the death event at a scene, and for estimating the postmortem interval. The postmortem interval can be estimated using accumulated degree days (ADD), which is used to count backward from the date of discovery to a likely time of death. A comprehensive understanding of taphonomy is also essential for differentiating postmortem changes on remains from causes such as trauma.