Human Taphonomy Across the Globe: Case Studies in Forensic Anthropology
Ava La Lande
Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology
Major: Biology
Faculty Research Mentor: Roxie James
Abstract:
All living beings will expire but their stories will live on through their bones. Taphonomy refers to the processes through which the remains of an organism undergo necrolysis, biostratinomy, and diagenesis. Within forensic contexts, taphonomy and physical anthropology play a fundamental role in studying what happens to the human body after death. Decomposition and bone degradation vary drastically depending on environmental conditions. Factors such as bone discoloration, weathering patterns, and postmortem trauma are influenced by the properties of the soil, climate, and ecosystem in which a body is buried. Taphonomy holds relevance in forensic investigations because it can complicate the determination of the post-mortem interval (time of death) and the biological profile (sex, age, and stature estimates). The following project consists of three case studies focused on the differences in taphonomy across the world. Case one examines the impacts of subtropical climates on human bones. The second study explores the change in the structural integrity of skeletal remains within glaciers. Lastly, the third case reviews bone degradation caused by submersion in marine environments.