The impact of shallow burial on differential decomposition to the body: A temperate case study

Forensic Science International

Volumn 206, Issue 1-3, 2011, Pages

  Schotsmans, Eline M J ^a   Van de Voorde, Wim ^b   De Winne, Joan ^c   Wilson, Andrew S ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD   (United Kingdom)

^b UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS LEUVEN   (Belgium)

^c Disaster Victim Identification Team Belgium   (Belgium)

Author keywords

Adipocere; Clandestine burial; Desiccation; Differential decomposition; Mummification; Taphonomy

Indexed keywords

ADIPOCERE; ADIPOSE TISSUE; AGED; ARTICLE; AUTOLYSIS; BELGIUM; CASE REPORT; CLIMATE; DESICCATION; HEAD; HUMAN; HUMAN TISSUE; LEG; MALE; NECK; PRIORITY JOURNAL; SHOULDER; SOFT TISSUE; TEMPERATE CLIMATE; TRUNK;

EID: 79952440654     PISSN: 03790738     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.07.036     Document Type: Article

References (35)

1. Janaway R.C., Percival S.L., Wilson A.S. Decomposition of human remains. Microbiology and Aging: Clinical Manifestations 2009, 313-334. Springer, New York. S.L. Percival (Ed.).
2. Janaway R.C. The decay of buried human remains and their associated materials. Studies in Crime: An Introduction to Forensic Archaeology 1996, 58-85. Routledge, London. J. Hunter, C.A. Roberts, A. Martin (Eds.).
3. Wilson A.S., Janaway R.C., Holland A.D., Dodson H.I., Baran E., Pollard A.M., Tobin D.J. Modelling the buried human body environment in upland climes using three contrasting field sites. Forensic Science International 2007, 169:6-18.
4. Janaway R.C., Wilson A.S., Carpio Diaz G., Guillen S. Taphonomic changes to the buried body in arid environments: an experimental case study in Peru. Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics 2009, 341-356. Springer, London. K. Ritz, L. Dawson, D. Miller (Eds.).
5. Micozzi M.S. Postmortem Change in Human and Animal Remains-A Systematic Approach 1991, Charles Thomas, Springfield.
6. Aufderheide A.C. The Scientific Study of Mummies 2003, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
7. Sledzik P.S., Micozzi M.S. Autopsied, embalmed and preserved human remains: distinguishing features in forensic and historic context. Forensic Taphonomy-The Post-mortem Fate of Human Remains 1997, 483-495. CRC Press, Boca Raton. W.D. Haglund, M.H. Sorg (Eds.).
8. Galloway A. The process of decomposition-a model from the Arizona-Sonoran desert. Forensic Taphonomy-The Post-mortem Fate of Human Remains 1997, 483-495. CRC Press, Boca Raton. W.D. Haglund, M.H. Sorg (Eds.).
9. Galloway A., Birkby W.H., Jones A.M., Henry T.E., Parks B.O. Decay rates of human remains in an arid environment. Journal of Forensic Sciences 1989, 34:607-616.
10. Clark M.A., Worrell M.B., Pless J.E. Postmortem changes in soft tissues. Forensic Taphonomy-The Post-mortem Fate of Human Remains 1997, 459-468. CRC Press, Boca Raton. W.D. Haglund, M.H. Sorg (Eds.).
11. Fiedler S., Graw M. Decomposition of buried corpses, with special reference to the formation of adipocere. Naturwisschenschaften 2003, 90:291-300.
12. Forbes S.L Decomposition chemistry in a burial environment. Soil analysis in forensic taphonomy 2008, 203-224. CRC Press, Boca Raton. M. Tibbett, D.O. Carter (Eds.).
13. Stuart B.H., Forbes S.L., Dent B.B., Hodgson G. Studies of adipocere using diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy. Vibrational Spectroscopy 2000, 24:233-242.
14. Takatori T. The mechanism of human adipocere formation. Legal Medicine 2001, 3:193-204.
15. Yan F., McNally R., Kontanis E.J., Sadik O.A. Preliminary quantitative investigation of post-mortem adipocere formation. Journal of Forensic Science 2001, 46:609-614.
16. O'Brien T.G., Kuehner A.C. Waxing grave about adipocere: soft tissue change in an aquatic context. Journal of Forensic Science 2007, 52:294-301.
17. Forbes S.L., Stuart B.H., Dent B.B. The effect of the method of burial on adipocere formation. Forensic Science International 2005, 154:44-52.
18. Knight B. Forensic Pathology 1996, Arnold, New York.
19. Nushida H., Adachi J., Takeuchi A., Asano M., Ueno Y. Adipocere formation via hydrogenation of linoleic acid in a victim kept under dry concealment. Forensic Science International 2008, 175:160-165.
20. Cotte M., Walter P., Tsoucaris G., Dumas P. Studying skin of an Egyptian mummy by infrared microscopy. Vibrational Spectroscopy 2005, 38:159-167.
21. Beaumont G. Body on the beach, a case of foot and mouth?. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine 2007, 14:54-57.
22. Carter D.O., Tibbett M. Cadaver decomposition and soil: processes. Soil Analysis in Forensic Taphonomy 2008, 29-51. CRC Press, Boca Raton. M. Tibbett, D.O. Carter (Eds.).
23. Jit I., Sehgal S., Sahni D. An Indian mummy: a case report. Forensic Science International 2001, 117:57-63.
24. Aturaliya S., Lukasewycz A. Experimental forensic and bioanthropological aspects of soft tissue taphonomy: factors influencing postmortem tissue desiccation rate. Journal of Forensic Science 1999, 44:893-896.
25. Forbes S.L., Stuart B.H., Dent B.B. The effect of the burial environment on adipocere formation. Forensic Science International 2005, 154:24-34.
26. Evans W.E. Adipocere formation in a relatively dry environment. Journal for Medical Science and Law 1963, 3:145-153.
27. Mant A.K. Knowledge acquired from pos-war exhumations. Death, Decay and Reconstruction-Approaches to Archaeology and Forensic Science 1987, 65-80. Manchester University Press, Manchester. A. Boddington, A.N. Garland, R.C. Janaway (Eds.).
28. Forbes S.L., Stuart B.H., Dent B.B. The identification of adipocere in grave soils. Forensic Science International 2002, 127:225-230.
29. Mant A.K. Adipocere, a review. Journal of Forensic Medicine 1957, 4:18-35.
30. Forbes S.L., Stuart B.H., Dent B.B. The effect of soil type on adipocere formation. Forensic Science International 2005, 154:35-43.
31. Rodriguez W.C. Decomposition of buried and submerged bodies. Forensic Taphonomy-The Post-mortem Fate of Human Remains 1997, 459-468. CRC Press, Boca Raton. W.D. Haglund, M.H. Sorg (Eds.).
32. Fiedler S., Schneckenberger K., Graw M. Characterisation of soils containing adipocere. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 2004, 47:561-568.
33. Vane C.H., Trick J.K. Evidence of adipocere in a burial pit from the foot and mouth epidemic of 1967 using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Forensic Science International 2005, 154:19-23.
34. Janaway R.C. The decomposition of materials associated with buried cadavers. Soil Analysis in Forensic Taphonomy 2008, 153-202. CRC Press, Boca Raton. M. Tibbett, D.O. Carter (Eds.).
35. Spitz W.U., Fisher D.J. Spitz and Fishers medicolegal investigation of death: guidelines for the application of pathology to crime investigation 2006, Charles Thomas, Springfield.