Time-since-death and bone weathering in a tropical environment

Decomposition Process and Post Mortem Changes: Review

“…The bones will undergo process of microbial attack of collagen; weathering, bleaching, exfoliation, cracking of cortical bone (followed by exposure of trebacular bone), loss of its inorganic mineral content and invasion of vegetation root (Shattuck 2009;Vass 2001). PMI at this stage may be difficult to determine although there are methods to examine skeletal remains based on completeness, fragmentation and articulation or weathering effect (Lieverse et al 2006;Ross & Cunningham 2011). Ross and Cunningham (2011) estimated that complete decomposition of bones require time between six to thirty years in a tropical environment setting.…”

“…PMI at this stage may be difficult to determine although there are methods to examine skeletal remains based on completeness, fragmentation and articulation or weathering effect (Lieverse et al 2006;Ross & Cunningham 2011). Ross and Cunningham (2011) estimated that complete decomposition of bones require time between six to thirty years in a tropical environment setting.…”

“…The main reason for the slower rate of decomposition is due to the restricted access for majority of insect and scavenger animals at buried corpse (Campobasso et al 2001;Ross & Cunningham 2011). However, buried corpse actually has its own faunal succession pattern, which is different from that on a ground surface corpse.…”

“…Air tight coffin on the other hand will inhibit the dispersion of decompositional products which then turn into toxic thus delaying decomposition (Ross & Cunningham 2011).…”

Preliminary results of sequential monitoring of simulated clandestine graves in Colombia, South America, using ground penetrating radar and botany

“…Although forensic research has been undertaken in the fields of forensic entomology [55,56], anthropology [57] and osteology [58] in Latin America, there has been limited geophysical research to assist forensic search teams with the successful detection of both isolated and mass burials of human victims, although a pilot study has shown promise [59]. The paper aims are to firstly detail the several simulated clandestine graves that were established in the test site; these were deliberately created to be those typically encountered by forensic search teams in rural Latin America and specifically Colombia.…”