Decomposition of Buried Bodies and Methods That May Aid in Their Location

Abstract

This is the second report on an ongoing study conducted to collect data on the decompositional rates of human cadavers and the first on buried cadavers. Six unembalmed human cadavers were buried separately in unlined trenches of various depths and allowed to naturally decompose for a time period ranging from a month to a year. During the period of burial, data were collected daily on the air, soil, and cadaver temperature at each burial site. At the end of each specified burial period the cadavers were exhumed and examined for the degree of decomposition which had taken place as well as changes in the soil pH, surface vegetation, and carrion insect activity. Analysis of the data shows that the decomposition rate of buried cadavers is highly dependent on the depth of burial and environmental temperatures. The depth at which the cadaver was buried also directly affected the degree of soil and vegetational changes as well as access by carrion insects. Application of this information can contribute to a more accurate estimation of time since death of a buried corpse and may aid in the location of such corpses.

Microbial decomposition of skeletal muscle tissue (Ovis aries) in a sandy loam soil at different temperatures

“…This fall in pH is in keeping with more complete decomposition at the higher temperature and is similar to findings from related research (Vass et al, 1992). The patterns of pH change observed in the absence of an enteric flora suggest that the soil microbial biomass may have contributed to the changes in pH observed in the presence of whole cadavers in other studies (Rodriguez and Bass, 1985;Vass et al, 1992;Hopkins et al, 2000).…”

Cadaver decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems

“…Advances in the understanding of gravesoils are primarily empirical observations (Illingworth 1926;Mant 1950;Evans 1963b;Morovic-Budak 1965;Sagara 1976;Micozzi 1991;Dent et al 2004) or made during the study of insect and/or scavenger activity (Bornemissza 1957;Reed 1958;Payne 1965;Rodriguez and Bass 1985;DeVault et al 2003). These observations and studies showed that introduction of cadaveric material into the soil is primarily regulated by the activity of insects and scavengers and the mass of the cadaver.…”

“…Although the majority of cadavers that die in nature are located on the soil surface, a number of studies were conducted to understand cadaver decomposition after burial in soil (Motter 1898;Mant 1950;Lundt 1964;Sagara 1976;Lötterle et al 1982;Rodriguez and Bass 1985;DeGaetano et al 1992;Child 1995;Spennemann and Franke 1995;VanLaerhoven and Anderson 1999;Hopkins et al 2000;Fiedler et al 2004;Carter 2005;Forbes et al 2005aForbes et al , 2005aWeitzel 2005;Carter and Tibbett 2006). While the results from these studies might be of little interest to the terrestrial ecologist, this aspect of below-ground ecology merits attention because it might be of significance to the archaeologist, forensic scientist, and those concerned with animal composting or the disposal of farm animals.…”

“…Taphonomy, originally a branch of paleontology, was developed to understand the ecology of a decomposition site, how site ecology changes upon the introduction of plant or animal remains and, in turn, how site ecology affects the decomposition of these materials (Efremov 1940). In recent years, these goals were incorporated by forensic science to understand the decomposition of human cadavers (Rodriguez and Bass 1983;Spennemann and Franke 1995;Carter and Tibbett 2006), to provide a basis on which to estimate postmortem and/or postburial interval (Willey and Snyder 1989;Vass et al 1992;Higley and Haskell 2001;Tibbett et al 2004;Megyesi et al 2005), to assist in the determination of cause and manner of death (Nuorteva 1977;Crist et al 1997;Haglund and Sorg 1997) and to aid in the location of clandestine graves (Rodriguez and Bass 1985;France et al 1992;Hunter 1994;France et al 1997;Carter and Tibbett 2003). These goals are achieved through the study of the factors that influence cadaver decomposition (e.g.…”

Can soil testate amoebae be used for estimating the time since death? A field experiment in a deciduous forest

“…So far, soil investigations in crime scenes have focused mainly on locating burial sites [3,4] and on the identification of soil samples recovered from suspects' footwear, clothes, vehicles or weapons [5][6][7][8][9][10]. However, a decomposing cadaver strongly modifies the soil environment and as a result affects the soil organisms [11,12].…”