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The effects of soil environment on postmortem interval: a macroscopic analysis.
Kimberley A Jaggers1, Tracy L Rogers
1Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada. kim.jaggers@utoronto.ca
Journal of Forensic Sciences
|September 19, 2009
Summary
Soil moisture significantly impacts bone degradation and postmortem interval (PMI) estimations. Higher moisture levels led to greater bone weight loss over five months, though color and texture remained unchanged.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Anthropology
- Taphonomy
- Bioarchaeology
Background:
- Bone degradation is influenced by burial conditions, affecting postmortem interval (PMI) estimations.
- Soil moisture is a critical environmental factor in bone decomposition studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of varying soil moisture levels on bone properties.
- To determine the relationship between soil moisture, bone degradation, and PMI estimations.
Main Methods:
- 120 sus scrofa leg bones were buried for 2 and 5 months in soils with differing moisture levels.
- Bone color, weight, condition, and texture were analyzed to assess degradation.
Main Results:
- Bones in higher moisture environments exhibited greater net weight loss compared to drier environments.
- No significant changes in bone color, texture, or overall condition were observed within the 150-day study period.
Conclusions:
- Soil moisture influences bone weight loss over time.
- 150 days is insufficient to cause significant alterations in bone color, texture, or condition, irrespective of soil moisture.
