Comparing two scoring indexes for assessing decomposition of juvenile remains

Decomposition can be quantified using the Total Body Score (TBS) or Total Decomposition Score (TDS). These scoring methods have never been compared to each other. The focus of this study was to investigate the decomposition process of juvenile remains and compare the scoring indexes with regard to how they relate to the postmortem interval (PMI) and accumulated degree days (ADD). A total of 66 juvenile pigs, placed at the Forensic Anthropological Outdoor Research Facility in the Netherlands between 2015 and 2019, were included in this research. Per season, two pigs weighing between 0.8 and 2.7 kg (represents neonatal remains) and two weighing between 4.2 and 10.5 kg (represents a child up to three years of age) were placed on the grounds of the research facility. The results indicate there is no significant difference between the linear relationships of TBS and TDS with PMI. Moreover, there is no significant difference between the linear relationships of TBS and TDS with ADD. When all seasons are combined, the relationships of both TBS and TDS with PMI are relatively weak (R² = 0.287 and 0.332 respectively). When the variables PMI and ADD are log-transformed, the correlation coefficients of the regression models do not significantly change. In conclusion, the correlation coefficients of the regression models do not significantly differ from each other. As the TDS method is simpler and more user-friendly, it could be of use in practice.