DESCRIPTION:
A truly interdisciplinary approach to this core subject within Forensic Science
- Combines essential theory with practical crime scene work
- Includes case studies
- Applicable to all time periods so has relevance for conventional archaeology, prehistory and anthropology
- Combines points of view from both established practitioners and young researchers to ensure relevance
CONTENTS:
Part I General Post-Mortem Processes: Degradation of Soft Tissue, Bone and Associated Materials 9 1 Gross Post-Mortem Changes in the Human Body 11 2 Microscopic Post-Mortem Changes: the Chemistry of Decomposition 26 3 Profiling Volatile Organic Compounds of Decomposition 39 4 Blood Degradation and Bloodstain Age Estimation 53 5 DNA Degradation: Current Knowledge and Progress in DNA Analysis 65 6 Taphonomic Alterations to Hair and Nail 81 7 Taphonomy of Teeth 92 8 The Taphonomy of Natural Mummies 101 9 Degradation of Clothing in Depositional Environments 120 10 Post-Mortem Interval Estimation: an Overview of Techniques 134 Part II The Depositional Environment 143 11 Relationships between Human Remains, Graves and the Depositional Environment 145 12 Bacterial Symbionts and Taphonomic Agents of Humans 155 13 Forensic Entomology and Funerary Archaeoentomology 167 14 Forensic Botany and Stomach Contents Analysis: Established Practice and Innovation 187 15 The Effects of Weathering on Bone Preservation 201 16 The Effects of Terrestrial Mammalian Scavenging and Avian Scavenging on the Body 212 17 Decomposition in Aquatic Environments 235 18 Post-Mortem Differential Preservation and its Utility in Interpreting Forensic and Archaeological Mass Burials 251 19 Reconstructing the Original Arrangement, Organisation and Architecture1 of Burials in Archaeology 277 Part III Anti-, Peri- and Post-Mortem Modifications to the Body 295 20 Forensic Toxicology of Decomposed Human Remains 297 21 Thermal Alteration to the Body 316 22 Concealing the Crime: The Effects of Chemicals on Human Tissues 333 23 Distinguishing between Peri- and Post-Mortem Trauma on Bone 350 24 Collection Care and Management of Human Remains 367 Part IV Case Studies 383 25 The Use of Volatile Fatty Acid Biomarkers to Estimate the Post-Mortem Interval 385 26 A Taphonomic Study Based on Observations of 196 Exhumations and 23 Clandestine Burials 392 27 Case Studies on Taphonomic Variation between Cemetery Burials 400 28 Forensic Entomology Case Studies from Mexico 408 29 Recovery of Skeletonised Human Remains and Textile Degradation: A Case Study 418 30 Saponified Brains of the Spanish Civil War 427 31 Analysis and Interpretation of Burned Human Remains from a Homicide 436 32 A Soldiers Story: Forensic Anthropology and Blast Injury 443 33 Decomposition in an Unusual Environment: Body Sealed in Concrete 450 34 A Case Study from Los Angeles: Baby in Concrete 452 35 History and Development of the First Anthropology Research Facility, Knoxville,Tennessee 461 36 Crime Scene Investigation, Archaeology and Taphonomy: Reconstructing Activities at Crime Scenes 474
