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Taphonomy, Trauma and Skeletal Biomechanics > CMA 1 > Flashcards

CMA 1 Flashcards

1
Q

define taphonomy

A

The study of the processes by which organic remains change after death

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2
Q

environmental taphonomic factors

A

abiotic + biotic

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3
Q

cultural taphonomic factors

A

mortuary activities, cultural modifications

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4
Q

ante mortem

A

before death

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5
Q

peri-mortem

A

period at or around death

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6
Q

Post-mortem

A

from death to recovery

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7
Q

post-recovery

A

from recovery to analysis

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8
Q

two stages of decomp

A
  1. Autolysis
  2. Putrefaction
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9
Q

6 stages of decomp

A
  1. Fresh
  2. Bloating
  3. Putrefaction
  4. Black putrefaction
  5. Buytric Fermentation
  6. Dry Decay
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10
Q

Autolysis

A

> cellular self-destruction
caused by lack of oxygen
Build up of CO = decreased pH
Releases nutrient rich fluid
colder = slower

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11
Q

Putrefaction

A

> Caused by autolysis = anaerobic environment
Release of carbohydrates feeds bacteria
produces gases + aromatic compounds

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12
Q

Order of Putrefaction

A
  1. Intestines, stomach, digestive tract, heart + blood
  2. Air passages and lungs
  3. Kidneys and bladder
  4. Brain + nervous tissue
  5. Skeletal muscles
  6. connective tissue + skin
  7. bones
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13
Q

bone diagenesis

A

bacteria eliminate collagen from within the bone

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14
Q

biotic factors

A

> insect activity
Animal scavenging
Human interaction/intervention

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15
Q

affect of insects on decomp

A

> as no. of insects increase so does temp
Larval mass = further tissue exposure = more insects
more consumption > more access > more eggs

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16
Q

Effect of animal scavenging on decomp.

A

> increase if they scavenge the body
decrease if they scavenge insects

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17
Q

order of scavenging

A
  1. Face and neck
  2. Thorax
  3. Upper extremities
  4. Lower extremities
  5. Trunk
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18
Q

evidence of rodent scavenging

A

parallel striations

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19
Q

effect of clothing type on decomp.

A

> man-made fibres insulate
natural allow air flow
wrappings (plastic) will increase decomp.

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20
Q

high humidity low temp

A

slow decomp

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21
Q

high humidity high temp.

A

rapid decomp

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22
Q

low humidity low temp.

A

freeze drying = no decomp.

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23
Q

low humidity high temp.

A

dehydration/mummification = no decomp.

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24
Q

rainfall/ground water on decomp.

A

adipocere formation (saponification): waxy substance from hydrolysis of fat - protects body from decomp.

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25
Q

livor mortis

A

settling of RBC according to gravity = indicates body position

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26
Q

Algor mortis

A

Change in body temp to match environment temp - can be used to measure PMI

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27
Q

Rigor Mortis

A

Gradual stiffening of muscles after death due to build of ATP - can be used to measure PMI but not accurate

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28
Q

marbling

A

> caused by sulfhaemoglobin through vascular system
progressive decolouration of body

29
Q

bloating

A

> production of gases (volatile organic compounds) = cadaverine and putrescine
eventually will purge through body cavities along with fluids

30
Q

Saponification

A

> hydrolysis of body fats
Adipocere formation
requires water
forms anaerobic environment

31
Q

dehydration - mummification

A

> removes water access for bacteria, slowing and stopping decomp.
high temp. low humidity
sand burials

32
Q

dehydration - freezing

A

> removes access to water = arrests decomp
arctic expeditions

33
Q

dissolution

A

dissolving body in acid or lyme

34
Q

resomation

A

alkaline hydrolysis (type of dissolution)

35
Q

maceration

A

controlled putrefaction = leaves only skeleton

36
Q

promession

A

freeze-dried to produce a powder

37
Q

mushroom burial

A

mushroom suit

38
Q

Methods of detecting deposition sites

A
  1. Aerial Photography
  2. Thermal Imaging
  3. Ground Penetrating Radar
  4. Resistivity
  5. Magnetometry
  6. Scent dogs
39
Q

decomp gases

A

putrescine + cadaverine

40
Q

ground penetrating radar

A

> can be problems with clay soils
good for penetrating concrete or paved layers

41
Q

Resistivity

A

> requires some level of moisture
ploughing and paving cause problems
dry soil and frozen ground problematic

42
Q

magnetometry

A

> useful in less disturbed soils
problematic in urban areas (power lines)

43
Q

water detection

A

> ground penetrating radar
only viable in fresh water environments
scent dogs

44
Q

Methods for determining PMI

A
  1. Potassium conc. of vitreous humour
  2. Algor mortis (body temp)
  3. Livor mortis
  4. Rigor mortis
  5. last meal
  6. entomology
45
Q

Radiocarbon dating

A

> N14 forms C14
plants + animals take up C14 during life
At death, C14 decreases at known rate = PMI

46
Q

total body score

A

Head & neck + Torso + limbs

47
Q

Accumulated degree days

A

> measurement of thermal units required for growth and development of insects to adult stage

48
Q

mixed assemblage causes

A

> mass fatality events
mass graves
ossuary

49
Q

sorting steps

A
  1. sort bone/tooth from other debris
  2. Sort human from non-human
  3. Inventory bones by type or side
  4. Examine morphology
  5. determine age/sex/ethnicity
  6. Consistency of size, length, robusticity, joint surface congruency
  7. evidence of duplication
50
Q

Imaging of commingled remains

A

> radiography
computed tomography

51
Q

SWGANTH guidelines for commingled remains

A

1.Visual pair matching
2.Articulation
3.process of elimination
4.Osteometric Comparison
5. Taphonomy (not primary technique)

52
Q

Determining how many individuals present

A

> MNI (minimum)
MLNI (most-likely)
MaxNI (maximum)

53
Q

MNI calc.

A

Max left or right of any single element (ignore pairs)

54
Q

Grand minimum total calc.

A

L+R-P

55
Q

MLNI calc.

A

(L+1)(R+1)/(P+1) - 1

56
Q

which quantification method to use?

A

> MNI underestimates until majority of remains uncovered
MLNI overestimates but generally more accurate

57
Q

Use of forensic entomology

A

> Estimating PMI
Body transfer
Confirm cadaver presence
DNA
Detect Drugs

58
Q

Necrophages

A

> First species feeding on corpse tissue (blowflies, beetles, clown beetles)

59
Q

Omnivores

A

> feed on the corpse and associated maggots
large populations of omnivores may slow decomp.
ants, wasps and beetles

60
Q

Predators of necrophages

A

> Beetles and wasps

61
Q

Incidental bugs

A

> hoverflies, spiders etc. - use the corpse as as an extension of their natural habitat.

62
Q

Bug stages

A

1.Eggs
2. 1st Instar
3. 2nd Instar
4. 3rd Instar
5. Pupa
6. Adult

63
Q

common colonizers of exposed bodies

A

> calliphoridae (blowflies)

64
Q

Development Threshold Temperature (DTT)

A

> Optimum temperature outside which development stops
lower temp slows and halts development
high temp. denatures and kills

65
Q

Effective/Base Temperature

A

Temp. threshold below which development will not occur

66
Q

Degree Days

A

The portion of thermal units insects use to grow and develop over one stage.

67
Q

Accumulated Degree Days

A

Degree days for stages added together to give the full life cycle

68
Q
A
69
Q

ADD/H calculation

A

Time x (temp. - ET) = ADD/H

Taphonomy, Trauma and Skeletal Biomechanics (2 decks)

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