Taphonomy of Human Remains: Forensic Analysis of the Dead and the Depositional Environment

A truly interdisciplinary approach to this core subject within Forensic Science Combines essential theory with practical crime scene work Includes case studies Applicable to all time periods so has relevance for conventional archaeology, prehistory and anthropology Combines points of view from both established practitioners and young researchers to ensure relevance INDICE: List of Contributors xix .Notes on Contributors xxvii .Foreword xxix .Acknowledgements xxxi .Introduction 1Eline M.J. Schotsmans, Nicholas Márquez–Grant and Shari L. Forbes .I.1 Efremov: from Taphonomy to Science Fiction 1 .I.2 The Meaning of Taphonomy 2 .I.3 The Rationale Behind this Volume 3 .I.4 Challenges in Forensic Taphonomy 4 .I.5 Organisation of the Volume 6 .References 7 .Part I General Post–Mortem Processes: Degradation of Soft Tissue, Bone and Associated Materials 9 .1 Gross Post–Mortem Changes in the Human Body 11Stuart J. Hamilton and Michael A. Green .1.1 Introduction 11 .1.2 The Immediate Post–Mortem Period 11 .1.3 Subsequent Weeks 16 .1.4 Other Post–Mortem Modifications 16 .1.5 Skeletonisation 22 .1.6 Conclusion and Future Research 22 .References 23 .Cited court cases 25 .2 Microscopic Post–Mortem Changes: the Chemistry of Decomposition 26Shari L. Forbes, Katelynn A. Perrault and Jenna L. Comstock .2.1 Introduction 26 .2.2 Autolysis 27 .2.3 Putrefaction 27 .2.4 Factors Affecting Autolysis and Putrefaction 31 .2.5 Impact of the Decomposition Process on the Surrounding Environment 32 .2.6 Conclusion 35 .References 35 .3 Profiling Volatile Organic Compounds of Decomposition 39Pierre–Hugues Stefanuto, Elien Rosier, Jan Tytgat, Jean–François Focant and Eva Cuypers .3.1 Introduction 39 .3.2 Matrices and Sampling Methods 40 .3.3 Results and Discussion 46 .3.4 Conclusion and Future Research 49 .References 50 .4 Blood Degradation and Bloodstain Age Estimation 53Gerda J. Edelman and Maurice C.G. Aalders .4.1 Introduction: Forensic relevance of bloodstains 53 .4.2 Blood Degradation 54 .4.3 Mechanical and Morphological Changes 55 .4.4 Optical Methods 55 .4.5 Practical Implementation 59 .4.6 Crime Scene Challenges of Bloodstain Age Estimation 60 .4.7 Conclusion 62 .References 62 .5 DNA Degradation: Current Knowledge and Progress in DNA Analysis 65Claudio Ottoni, Bram Bekaert and Ronny Decorte .5.1 Introduction 65 .5.2 Mechanisms of DNA Degradation 65 .5.3 Preservation of DNA: Recommendations Concerning Sampling and Storage 68 .5.4 Methodologies to Analyse Degraded DNA 70 .5.5 Future Prospects 74 .5.6 Conclusion 75 .References 75 .6 Taphonomic Alterations to Hair and Nail 81Andrew S. Wilson .6.1 Introduction 81 .6.2 Structure of Hair and Nail 82 .6.3 Changes to Hair and Nail 83 .6.4 Processing and Storage of Hair 87 .6.5 Conclusion 87 .Acknowledgements 88 .References 88 .7 Taphonomy of Teeth 92Christopher W. Schmidt, Robin Quataert, Fatma Zalzala and Ruggero D Anastasio .7.1 Introduction 92 .7.2 Mechanical Damage: Forensic Case Study 93 .7.3 Effects of Thermal Damage 94 .7.4 Thermal Damage: Archaeological Case Study 95 .7.5 Caveats 97 .7.6 Conclusion 98 .References 98 .8 The Taphonomy of Natural Mummies 101Dario Piombino–Mascali, Heather Gill–Frerking and Ronald G. Beckett .8.1 Introduction 101 .8.2 Post–Mortem Decay 102 .8.3 Natural or Spontaneous Mummification 102 .8.4 Soft Tissue Changes 103 .8.5 Environment, Culture or Both? 104 .8.6 Dry Environments 104 .8.7 Bog Environments 109 .8.8 Cold Environments 110 .8.9 Anaerobic Environments 112 .8.10 Differential Decomposition 113 .8.11 Post–Depositional Factors and Taphonomic Impact 114 .8.12 Conclusion 116 .References 116 .9 Degradation of Clothing in Depositional Environments 120Barbara H. Stuart and Maiken Ueland .9.1 Introduction 120 .9.2 The Structures and Properties of Clothing Materials 120 .9.3 Decomposition Mechanisms of Clothing Materials in Depositional Environments 124 .9.4 The Influence of Clothing on the Decomposition Processes 127 .9.5 Forensic and Archaeological Studies of Clothing Degradation 128 .9.6 Protocols for Forensic and Archaeological Clothing Collection and Analysis 130 .9.7 Conclusion and Future Research 131 .References 131 .10 Post–Mortem Interval Estimation: an Overview of Techniques 134Tal Simmons .10.1 Introduction 134 .10.2 Why Estimating the PMI is Important 134 .10.3 Scientific Method versus Anecdote in PMI Estimation 135 .10.4 Methods for Estimating PMI 137 .10.5 Case Example 139 .10.6 Conclusion and Future Research 140 .References 141 .Part II The Depositional Environment 143 .11 Relationships between Human Remains, Graves and the Depositional Environment 145Emily N. Junkins and David O. Carter .11.1 Introduction 145 .11.2 The Taphonomy of Buried Human Remains 145 .11.3 Factors that Influence Decomposition: Environmental and Intrinsic Variables 146 .11.4 Decomposition Processes: Autolysis, Putrefaction and Decay 149 .11.5 The Forensic Application of Taphonomy 150 .11.6 Conclusion 151 .References 152 .12 Bacterial Symbionts and Taphonomic Agents of Humans 155Franklin E. Damann .12.1 Introduction 155 .12.2 Bacterial Growth and Metabolism 156 .12.3 Limiting Factors of Bacterial Growth and Function 156 .12.4 Bacteria as Symbiotic Organisms 158 .12.5 Bacteria as Taphonomic Agents 159 .12.6 Putrefaction 159 .12.7 Microbiology in Forensic Medicine 161 .12.8 Conclusion 163 .References 164 .13 Forensic Entomology and Funerary Archaeoentomology 167Stefano Vanin and Jean–Bernard Huchet .13.1 Introduction 167 .13.2 Insects: Useful Information for Forensic Scientists and Archaeologists 168 .13.3 Forensic Entomology and the Application of Insect Knowledge in Forensic Contexts 175 .13.4 Insects Recovered from Graves or Associated with Human Remains in Archaeological Contexts 176 .13.5 Body Alteration at the Crime Scene as a Result of Insect Activity 179 .13.6 Bone Modifications due to Insect Activity 181 .13.7 Conclusion 181 .Acknowledgements 182 .References 182 .14 Forensic Botany and Stomach Contents Analysis: Established Practice and Innovation 187Jennifer Miller .14.1 Introduction 187 .14.2 Forensic Applications of Botany 187 .14.3 Conclusion 197 .References 198 .15 The Effects of Weathering on Bone Preservation 201Soren Blau .15.1 Introduction 201 .15.2 A Brief History of Weathering Studies 201 .15.3 Variables that Influence Weathering 202 .15.4 The Value of Bone Weathering Analyses in Forensic Investigations 204 .15.5 Conclusion 208 .Acknowledgements 208 .References 208 .16 The Effects of Terrestrial Mammalian Scavenging and Avian Scavenging on the Body 212Alexandria Young .16.1 Introduction 212 .16.2 Terrestrial Mammalian Scavengers 213 .16.3 Avian Scavengers 225 .16.4 Applications to Crime Scene Investigation 226 .16.5 Conclusion and Future Research 227 .References 228 .17 Decomposition in Aquatic Environments 235Barbara H. Stuart and Maiken Ueland .17.1 Introduction 235 .17.2 Decomposition Processes in Aquatic Environments 236 .17.3 Post–Mortem Submersion Interval 239 .17.4 Factors Influencing Aquatic Decomposition Processes 240 .17.5 Case Reports and Studies 244 .17.6 Recovery Protocols 246 .17.7 Conclusion and Future Research 247 .References 247 .18 Post–Mortem Differential Preservation and its Utility in Interpreting Forensic and Archaeological Mass Burials 251Caroline Barker, Esma Alicehajic and Javier Naranjo Santana .18.1 Introduction 251 .18.2 Assessment of Taphonomic Change in Forensic and Archaeological Contexts 251 .18.3 The Study of Taphonomy in Forensic and Archaeological Contexts 253 .18.4 Taphonomic Assessment in Mass Burial Deposits 256 .18.5 Taphonomic Processes and Differential Preservation in Mass Burials: Current Research and Application 258 .18.6 Case Study 1: Differential Preservation of Human Remains and Artefacts in Archaeological Mass Graves of the Same PMI and its Utility to Establish Differences in Burial Environments over Time 262 .18.7 Case Study 2: Differential Preservation of Human Remains in Forensic Mass Graves and its Use as an Evidentiary Tool 264 .18.8 Conclusion and Future Research 266 .Acknowledgements 267 .References 267 .19 Reconstructing the Original Arrangement, Organisation and Architecture of Burials in Archaeology 277Dominique Castex and Frédérique Blaizot .19.1 Introduction 277 .19.2 The Reconstruction of Perishable Funerary Architecture and its Arrangement 278 .19.3 Analysis of Several Individuals in the Same Pit 284 .19.4 Conclusion 294 .Acknowledgements 294 .References 295 .Part III Anti–, Peri– and Post–Mortem Modifications to the Body 297 .20 Forensic Toxicology of Decomposed Human Remains 299Richard Lloyd and Julie Evans .20.1 Introduction 299 .20.2 Toxicological Matrices 301 .20.3 Case Study 307 .20.4 Conclusion and Future Research 311 .References 311 .21 Thermal Alteration to the Body 318Tim J.U. Thompson, David Gonçalves, Kirsty Squires and Priscilla Ulguim .21.1 Introduction 318 .21.2 Soft Tissue Changes 318 .21.3 Hard Tissue Changes 319 .21.4 Conclusion and Future Research 328 .References 329 .22 Concealing the Crime: the Effects of Chemicals on Human Tissues 335Eline M. J. Schotsmans and Wim Van de Voorde .22.1 Introduction 335 .22.2 Corrosive Substances: Definitions and History 336 .22.3 The Effect of Corrosive Substances on Human Tissues: Case Examples 337 .22.4 Research on Corrosive Agents and Decomposition 341 .22.5 Case Study: The Pandy Case 343 .22.6 Conclusion 347 .Acknowledgements 347 .References 348 .23 Distinguishing between Peri– and Post–Mortem Trauma on Bone 352Cristina Cattaneo and Annalisa Cappella .23.1 Introduction 352 .23.2 Peri– and Post–Mortem Trauma 352 .23.3 Alternative Solutions for Distinguishing Between Peri– and Post–Mortem Trauma on Bone 362 .23.4 Conclusion 365 .References 365 .24 Collection Care and Management of Human Remains 369Rebecca C. Redfern and Jelena J. Bekvalac .24.1 Introduction 369 .24.2 Collection Origin and Deposition 369 .24.3 Collection Management 371 .24.4 Conclusion 378 .Acknowledgements 379 .References 379 .Part IV Case Studies 385 .25 The Use of Volatile Fatty Acid Biomarkers to Estimate the Post–Mortem Interval 387Arpad A. Vass .25.1 Introduction 387 .25.2 Methods and Collection 387 .25.3 Conclusion 393 .References 393 .26 A Taphonomic Study Based on Observations of 196 Exhumations and 23 Clandestine Burials 394Roosje de Leeuwe and W.J. Mike Groen .26.1 Introduction 394 .26.2 Background on the Exhumations Carried out by the NFI 394 .26.3 Variables 395 .26.4 Cemetery versus Clandestine Burials 400 .26.5 Conclusion 401 .References 401 .27 Case Studies on Taphonomic Variation between Cemetery Burials 402Karl Harrison and Emily Cline .27.1 Introduction 402 .27.2 Burial Taphonomy: Examples of Cemetery Burials 402 .27.3 Conclusion 407 .References 408 .28 Forensic Entomology Case Studies from Mexico 410Leonardo R. Flores Pérez, Humberto Molina Chávez, Manuel Nava Hernández and Fray M. Pérez Villegas .28.1 Introduction 410 .28.2 Case Study from Mexico City 410 .28.3 Case Studies from Hidalgo State 414 .28.4 Conclusion 417 .References 417 .29 Recovery of Skeletonised Human Remains and Textile Degradation: a Case Study 420Rob C. Janaway and Nicholas Márquez–Grant .29.1 Introduction 420 .29.2 Outdoor Recovery of Skeletonised Human Remains 420 .29.3 Case Study 422 .29.4 Conclusion 426 .Acknowledgements 428 .References 428 .30 Saponified Brains of the Spanish Civil War 429Fernando Serrulla, Francisco Etxeberría, Lourdes Herrasti, José Luis Cascallana and Julio Del Olmo .30.1 Introduction: the Spanish Civil War (1936 1939) 429 .30.2 Two Mass Graves 429 .30.3 Methods and Materials 431 .30.4 Results: Taphonomic Factors and Brain Analysis 431 .30.5 Discussion and Conclusion 434 .Acknowledgements 436 .References 436 .31 Analysis and Interpretation of Burned Human Remains from a Homicide 438Anne Coulombeix and Yves Schuliar .31.1 Introduction 438 .31.2 Background to the Case 438 .31.3 Physical Evidence Recovered at the Crime Scene 439 .31.4 Additional Experiments 440 .31.5 Discussion 442 .31.6 Conclusion 443 .Acknowledgements 443 .References 443 .32 A Soldier s Story: Forensic Anthropology and Blast Injury 445Marie Christine Dussault, Martin Brown and Richard Osgood .32.1 Introduction 445 .32.2 Background and Case History 445 .32.3 Condition of the Remains and Inventory 446 .32.4 Analysis Results 448 .32.5 Discussion 449 .32.6 Conclusion 451 .References 451 .33 Decomposition in an Unusual Environment: Body Sealed in Concrete 452Maria Cristina de Mendonça .33.1 Introduction 452 .33.2 Case Report 452 .33.3 Discussion and Conclusion 453 .34 A Case Study from Los Angeles: Baby in Concrete 454Chelsea Parham and Elissa Fleak .34.1 Introduction 454 .34.2 Background to the Case 454 .34.3 External Examination 455 .34.4 Internal Examination 457 .34.5 Discussion 458 .34.6 Conclusion 459 .References 459 .Part V Past, Present and Future Considerations 461 .35 History and Development of the First Anthropology Research Facility, Knoxville, Tennessee 463Giovanna M. Vidoli, Dawnie W. Steadman, Joanne B. Devlin and Lee Meadows Jantz .35.1 Introduction 463 .35.2 History of the ARF 463 .35.3 Daily Operations of the FAC 465 .35.4 Research at the ARF 468 .35.5 Training Opportunities at the ARF 470 .35.6 Conclusion 471 .References 472 .36 Crime Scene Investigation, Archaeology and Taphonomy: Reconstructing Activities at Crime Scenes 476W.J. Mike Groen and Charles E.H. Berger .36.1 Introduction 476 .36.2 CSI Fundamentals 478 .36.3 The Archaeological Paradigm 480 .36.4 Assessing Archaeological Assemblages and Site Formation Processes 483 .36.5 The CSI Practice, an Archaeological and Criminalistic Perspective 484 .36.6 Conclusion 490 .Acknowledgements 491 .References 491 .Index 495

• ISBN: 978-1-118-95332-7
• Editorial: Wiley–Blackwell
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 544
• Fecha Publicación: 31/03/2017
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés