Forensic anthropologists and taphonomists are often tasked with interpreting the
sequence of events from death through decomposition to skeletonisation. Discovery of burnt
bone often evokes questions as to the condition of the body prior to the burn event. The
purpose of this study was to evaluate features of thermal damage on bones in relationship to
the condition of the bone (dry/wet) and progression of decomposition. Twenty-five pigs in
various stages of decomposition (fresh, early, advanced, early & late skeletonisation) were
exposed to fire for 30 minutes. The skeletal elements were scored and features included:
colour change (unaltered, charred, calcined), brown and heat borders, heat lines, delineation,
greasy bone, joint shielding, predictable and minimal cracking, delamination and heatinduced
fractures. Colour changes were scored according to a ranked percentage scale (0 – 3)
and the remaining traits as absent or present (0/1). Cohen’s Kappa statistics evaluated intraand
interobserver error. Density plots and frequency distributions were constructed and
multiple regression (categorical variables) and transition analysis were employed. The
majority (8) of the 13 traits displayed potential to predict decomposition stage from burned
remains. An increase in calcined and charred bone occurred synchronously with an
advancement in decomposition. The organic composition of bone and presence of flesh affect
the characteristics features of burned bone. Greasy bone occurred most often in the
early/fresh stages (fleshed bone). Heat borders, heat lines, delineation, joint shielding,
predictable and minimal cracking were associated with wet tissue/bone; whereas brown
burn/borders, delamination and other heat-induced fractures were associated with early and
late skeletonisation. No statistically significant differences were noted among observers for
the majority of the traits except for predictable and minimal cracking and heat-induced
fractures in the cranium. Heat-induced changes may assist in estimating decomposition stage
from unknown, burnt remains and thereby aid in a providing an indication as to the condition
of the bone prior to the burn event. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Anatomy / unrestricted
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:up/oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/40277 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Keough, Natalie |
| Contributors | L'Abbe, Ericka Noelle, natalie-keough@up.ac.za, Steyn, Maryna |
| Publisher | University of Pretoria |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | © 2013 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
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