After a body has become skeletonized, it undergoes a series of weathering patterns over time. The sequence and time course for change are affected by a variety of factors.
Factors affecting bone weathering:
(1) time since death
(2) environment (temperature, sun exposure, humidity, moisture, geochemical change)
(3) type of bone (small, compact bones vs larger more porous bones)
(4) species, body size and development
(5) physiologic status (nutrition, endocrinologic) at time of death
(6) animal scavenging (carnivore modification)
(7) warfare or other source of explosive modification
|
Appearance (after Behrensmeyer) |
Range in Years Since Death |
Stage |
|
• no cracking or flaking • greasy • soft tissue present • marrow contains tissue |
0-1 years |
0 |
|
• longitudinal cracking (parallel to fiber structure) in long bones • fat, skin and other tissue may or may not be present |
0-4 years |
1 |
|
• flaking of outer surface usually associated with cracks • flakes long and thin with one end attached to bone • crack edge angular on cross-section • exfoliation begins • remnants of soft tissue may still be present |
2-7 years |
2 |
|
• bone surface rough with fibrous texture • weathering penetrates 1.0 to 1.5 mm • crack edges rounded on cross-section • tissue rarely present |
4 to 15+ |
3 |
|
• bone surface coarse, rough and fibrous • large and small splinters loosely attached • weathering penetrates to inner cavities • cracks open, with splintered or rounded edges |
6 to 15+ |
4 |
|
• bone very fragile and mechanically falling apart • cancellous bone usually exposed |
6 to 15+ |
5 |
Specialty: Clinical Laboratory
ICD-10: ,
