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Greater understanding of animal scavenging of human remains can assist forensic science investigators in locating and recovering dispersed skeletal elements, in recognizing damage produced by scavengers, and in making more informed estimates of the postmortem interval. The pattern of skeletal damage can indicate whether the body was scavenged while intact or at some time after other natural processes of disarticulation had begun. This study analyzed thirty partially to fully skeletonized human remains with respect to scavenging at the time of body discovery in order to determine if a patterned consumption sequence existed. The scavengers were primarily coyotes (Canis latrans) and domestic dogs (C. familiaris). Sixteen non-carnivore-scavenged remains were also examined and contrasted with the carnivore-scavenged sample. Observed postmortem intervals from death to recovery ranged from 4 h to 52 months. Results demonstrate that canid scavenging of human remains takes place in sequential stages: Stage 0 = no bony involvement; Stage 1 = ventral thorax damaged and one or both upper extremities removed; Stage 2 = lower extremity involvement; Stage 3 = only vertebral segments remain articulated; and Stage 4 = total disarticulation. Results revealed a clear correspondence between observed stages of disarticulation and the postmortem interval.

Interpretation of dental development of fossil hominids requires understanding of and comparison with the pattern and timing of dental development among living humans and pongids. We report the first study of crown and root calcification in the lower permanent molar teeth among chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) of known chronological age. A series of 99 lateral head radiographs of 16 captive‐born chimpanzees were analyzed. Radiographs were taken at irregular intervals throughout the entire postnatal period of dental development from birth to 13 years of age. Permanent mandibular molars were rated on an eight‐point maturation scale from initial radiographic appearance through crown and root calcification and apical closure of the root canals. In addition, we were able to document initial crown calcification and completion, as well as root completion and apical closure in incisors, canines, and premolars. Our results show several differences from the widely cited developmental schedule for pongid dentitions of Dean and Wood (Folia Primatol. 36:111–127, 1981). We found a much greater degree of temporal overlap in calcification of the crowns of adjacent molars, a pattern very unlike that usually seen in human dental development, which is characterized by delays between the onset of crown calcification in the molar series. Also, the ages and durations of crown and root formation in our chimp sample differ from the estimates proposed by Dean and Wood. By more clearly establishing the nature of developmental schedules and the timing of major events in the pongid dentition, these results should aid in the ongoing controversies concerning the human or pongid nature of dental development among Plio‐Pleistocene hominids.

Animal scavenging activity can result in production of tooth mark artifacts. Such activity can confound interpretation of skeletal material and the identification process. To date, these topics have received limited attention in the forensic science literature. This study discusses the nature of various animal tooth mark artifacts and typical damage to selected bony elements. This study also assesses survivability of various skeletal elements over time. Two major factors that affect which bones are recovered and the amount of damage are circumstances which shelter remains from animals and human population density of the area where the skeleton is recovered.

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