Forensic Taphonomy Flashcards
(7 cards)
1
Q
What is Forensic Taphonomy?
A
- It is the study of the changes and processes that occur between the time of a person’s death and the time the body has been discovered.
2
Q
What does taphonomy stand for?
A
- It stands for how a human leaves the biosphere and enters the lithosphere.
3
Q
What are the goals for forensic taphonomy?
A
- Trying to establish a Tim since death.
- Trying to establish the perimortem period.
- Trying to establish changes between ones caused by humans and ones caused by natural processes.
4
Q
What are some extrinsic factors that contribute to forensic taphonomy?
A
- Climate: temperature, sun and humidity.
- Deposition environment, burial, water.
- Exposure to animals.
- Human action, dismemberment.
5
Q
What are some intrinsic factors that contribute to forensic taphonomy?
A
- Clothing
- Body size
- Medication/ diseases
6
Q
What are the two types of modification?
A
- Artifact- by product of human action.
- Ecofact- by product resulting from natural processes.
7
Q
What are the five stages of decomposition?
A
- Fresh stage
- Bloat stage
- Active decay
- Advanced decay
- Skeltonisation
