[Two conspicuous findings in human tubular bones following longer exposure time]
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Updated: Oct 6, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
1Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover.
Abstract:
A human skeleton was found in a forest after an aging time (laydays) of nearly three years. Surprisingly a larger number of living maggots crawled out of the medullary cavity of the humerus after sawing it longitudinally. Investigations of other long bones showed remnants of maggots, fly-pupas and maggot-excrements in similar cases. A humerus is found after an estimated aging time of over 100 years. The presence of a remaining epiphyseal gap indicated an age of about 20 years, whereas the extension of the medullary cavity showed a much higher age. After a long aging time, these structures show similar findings in other cases. Damage done by frost should be discussed.
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