Taphonomy of Human Remains : Forensic Analysis of the Dead and the Depositional Environment.

Intro -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Table of Contents -- List of Contributors -- Notes on Contributors -- Foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- I.1 Efremov: from Taphonomy to Science Fiction -- I.2 The Meaning of Taphonomy -- I.3 The Rationale Behind this Volume -- I.4 Challenges in Forensic Taphonomy -- I.5 Organisation of the Volume -- References -- Part I: General Post-Mortem Processes: Degradation of Soft Tissue, Bone and Associated Materials -- Chapter 1: Gross Post-Mortem Changes in the Human Body -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 The Immediate Post-Mortem Period -- 1.3 Subsequent Weeks -- 1.4 Other Post-Mortem Modifications -- 1.5 Skeletonisation -- 1.6 Conclusion and Future Research -- References -- Cited court cases -- Chapter 2: Microscopic Post-Mortem Changes: the Chemistry of Decomposition -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Autolysis -- 2.3 Putrefaction -- 2.4 Factors Affecting Autolysis and Putrefaction -- 2.5 Impact of the Decomposition Process on the Surrounding Environment -- 2.6 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 3: Profiling Volatile Organic Compounds of Decomposition -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Matrices and Sampling Methods -- 3.3 Results and Discussion -- 3.4 Conclusion and Future Research -- References -- Chapter 4: Blood Degradation and Bloodstain Age Estimation -- 4.1 Introduction: Forensic relevance of bloodstains -- 4.2 Blood Degradation -- 4.3 Mechanical and Morphological Changes -- 4.4 Optical Methods -- 4.5 Practical Implementation -- 4.6 Crime Scene Challenges of Bloodstain Age Estimation -- 4.7 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 5: DNA Degradation: Current Knowledge and Progress in DNA Analysis -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Mechanisms of DNA Degradation -- 5.3 Preservation of DNA: Recommendations Concerning Sampling and Storage -- 5.4 Methodologies to Analyse Degraded DNA -- 5.5 Future Prospects -- 5.6 Conclusion.

References -- Chapter 6: Taphonomic Alterations to Hair and Nail -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Structure of Hair and Nail -- 6.3 Changes to Hair and Nail -- 6.4 Processing and Storage of Hair -- 6.5 Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 7: Taphonomy of Teeth -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Mechanical Damage: Forensic Case Study -- 7.3 Effects of Thermal Damage -- 7.4 Thermal Damage: Archaeological Case Study -- 7.5 Caveats -- 7.6 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 8: The Taphonomy of Natural Mummies -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Post-Mortem Decay -- 8.3 Natural or Spontaneous Mummification -- 8.4 Soft Tissue Changes -- 8.5 Environment, Culture or Both? -- 8.6 Dry Environments -- 8.7 Bog Environments -- 8.8 Cold Environments -- 8.9 Anaerobic Environments -- 8.10 Differential Decomposition -- 8.11 Post-Depositional Factors and Taphonomic Impact -- 8.12 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 9: Degradation of Clothing in Depositional Environments -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 The Structures and Properties of Clothing Materials -- 9.3 Decomposition Mechanisms of Clothing Materials in Depositional Environments -- 9.4 The Influence of Clothing on the Decomposition Processes -- 9.5 Forensic and Archaeological Studies of Clothing Degradation -- 9.6 Protocols for Forensic and Archaeological Clothing Collection and Analysis -- 9.7 Conclusion and Future Research -- References -- Chapter 10: Post-Mortem Interval Estimation: an Overview of Techniques -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Why Estimating the PMI is Important -- 10.3 Scientific Method versus Anecdote in PMI Estimation -- 10.4 Methods for Estimating PMI -- 10.5 Case Example -- 10.6 Conclusion and Future Research -- References -- Part II: The Depositional Environment -- Chapter 11: Relationships between Human Remains, Graves and the Depositional Environment -- 11.1 Introduction.

11.2 The Taphonomy of Buried Human Remains -- 11.3 Factors that Influence Decomposition: Environmental and Intrinsic Variables -- 11.4 Decomposition Processes: Autolysis, Putrefaction and Decay -- 11.5 The Forensic Application of Taphonomy -- 11.6 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 12: Bacterial Symbionts and Taphonomic Agents of Humans -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Bacterial Growth and Metabolism -- 12.3 Limiting Factors of Bacterial Growth and Function -- 12.4 Bacteria as Symbiotic Organisms -- 12.5 Bacteria as Taphonomic Agents -- 12.6 Putrefaction -- 12.7 Microbiology in Forensic Medicine -- 12.8 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 13: Forensic Entomology and Funerary Archaeoentomology -- 13.1 Introduction -- 13.2 Insects: Useful Information for Forensic Scientists and Archaeologists -- 13.3 Forensic Entomology and the Application of Insect Knowledge in Forensic Contexts -- 13.4 Insects Recovered from Graves or Associated with Human Remains in Archaeological Contexts -- 13.5 Body Alteration at the Crime Scene as a Result of Insect Activity -- 13.6 Bone Modifications due to Insect Activity -- 13.7 Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 14: Forensic Botany and Stomach Contents Analysis: Established Practice and Innovation -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 Forensic Applications of Botany -- 14.3 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 15: The Effects of Weathering on Bone Preservation -- 15.1 Introduction -- 15.2 A Brief History of Weathering Studies -- 15.3 Variables that Influence Weathering -- 15.4 The Value of Bone Weathering Analyses in Forensic Investigations -- 15.5 Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 16: The Effects of Terrestrial Mammalian Scavenging and Avian Scavenging on the Body -- 16.1 Introduction -- 16.2 Terrestrial Mammalian Scavengers -- 16.3 Avian Scavengers.

16.4 Applications to Crime Scene Investigation -- 16.5 Conclusion and Future Research -- References -- Chapter 17: Decomposition in Aquatic Environments -- 17.1 Introduction -- 17.2 Decomposition Processes in Aquatic Environments -- 17.3 Post-Mortem Submersion Interval -- 17.4 Factors Influencing Aquatic Decomposition Processes -- 17.5 Case Reports and Studies -- 17.6 Recovery Protocols -- 17.7 Conclusion and Future Research -- References -- Chapter 18: Post-Mortem Differential Preservation and its Utility in Interpreting Forensic and Archaeological Mass Burials -- 18.1 Introduction -- 18.2 Assessment of Taphonomic Change in Forensic and Archaeological Contexts -- 18.3 The Study of Taphonomy in Forensic and Archaeological Contexts -- 18.4 Taphonomic Assessment in Mass Burial Deposits -- 18.5 Taphonomic Processes and Differential Preservation in Mass Burials: Current Research and Application -- 18.6 Case Study 1: Differential Preservation of Human Remains and Artefacts in Archaeological Mass Graves of the Same PMI and its Utility to Establish Differences in Burial Environments over Time -- 18.7 Case Study 2: Differential Preservation of Human Remains in Forensic Mass Graves and its Use as an Evidentiary Tool -- 18.8 Conclusion and Future Research -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 19: Reconstructing the Original Arrangement, Organisation and Architecture1 of Burials in Archaeology -- 19.1 Introduction -- 19.2 The Reconstruction of Perishable Funerary Architecture and its Arrangement -- 19.3 Analysis of Several Individuals in the Same Pit -- 19.4 Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Part III: Anti-, Peri- and Post-Mortem Modifications to the Body -- Chapter 20: Forensic Toxicology of Decomposed Human Remains -- 20.1 Introduction -- 20.2 Toxicological Matrices -- 20.3 Case Study -- 20.4 Conclusion and Future Research -- References.

Chapter 21: Thermal Alteration to the Body -- 21.1 Introduction -- 21.2 Soft Tissue Changes -- 21.3 Hard Tissue Changes -- 21.4 Conclusion and Future Research -- References -- Chapter 22: Concealing the Crime: the Effects of Chemicals on Human Tissues -- 22.1 Introduction -- 22.2 Corrosive Substances: Definitions and History -- 22.3 The Effect of Corrosive Substances on Human Tissues: Case Examples -- 22.4 Research on Corrosive Agents and Decomposition -- 22.5 Case Study: The Pandy Case -- 22.6 Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 23: Distinguishing between Peri- and Post-Mortem Trauma on Bone -- 23.1 Introduction -- 23.2 Peri- and Post-Mortem Trauma -- 23.3 Alternative Solutions for Distinguishing Between Peri- and Post-Mortem Trauma on Bone -- 23.4 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 24: Collection Care and Management of Human Remains -- 24.1 Introduction -- 24.2 Collection Origin and Deposition -- 24.3 Collection Management -- 24.4 Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Part IV: Case Studies -- Chapter 25: The Use of Volatile Fatty Acid Biomarkers to Estimate the Post-Mortem Interval -- 25.1 Introduction -- 25.2 Methods and Collection -- 25.3 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 26: A Taphonomic Study Based on Observations of 196 Exhumations and 23 Clandestine Burials -- 26.1 Introduction -- 26.2 Background on the Exhumations Carried out by the NFI -- 26.3 Variables -- 26.4 Cemetery versus Clandestine Burials -- 26.5 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 27: Case Studies on Taphonomic Variation between Cemetery Burials -- 27.1 Introduction -- 27.2 Burial Taphonomy: Examples of Cemetery Burials -- 27.3 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 28: Forensic Entomology Case Studies from Mexico -- 28.1 Introduction -- 28.2 Case Study from Mexico City -- 28.4 Conclusion -- References.

Chapter 29: Recovery of Skeletonised Human Remains and Textile Degradation: a Case Study.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2024. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.