Forensic Taphonomy
Introduction
Taphonomy is a study of what happened in-between the Time of death until a body was
discovered which helps to reconstruct the circumstances of the scene. The term taphonomy is a word
derived from the Greek words ‘táphos’ which means ‘burial’ and ‘nomos’ which means ‘law’ which was
introduced in 1940 by soviet scientist ‘Ivan Efremov’ to study the changes of remaining organisms.
Developed within the disciplines of palaeontology archaeology and paleonarcheology. Forensic
taphonomy is a sub-field of anthropology which includes archaeology application of archaeological
searches and its required sub-field techniques and its laboratory analysis in found remains and
understanding the transition of bones and the soft tissues. Forensic taphonomy frequently includes the
application of disciplines in other physical science. Taphonomy is mostly focusing on environmental
effects like decomposition in soil, and water and some interactions with other plants or insects or animals.
Branches of Forensic Taphonomy
There are two Branches in forensic taphonomy which are bio taphonomy and geo taphonomy: -
i ) Bio Taphonomy :
In this bio taphonomist , study the cadavers remains to discover how the soft and hard tissues
are decomposed. Like Environmental factors ( climate or animals or plants), individual factors ( age or
health or body mass ) cultural factors ( autopsy processes or funeral activities ).
ii ) Geo taphonomy :
In this geotaphonomist , study how and what are the factors that affected the geological
environment like how the person who buries a body affects the environment or how the body itself affects
the environment. It most commonly includes soil disturbances , disruption in vegetative growth ,
variation in ph of the soil etc...
Stages of Taphonomy :
There are five main stages in taphonomy :-
i ) Disarticulation :- It happens when the cadaver decays and the bones are separated from the flesh
and tendons of organisms.
Introduction
Taphonomy is a study of what happened in-between the Time of death until a body was
discovered which helps to reconstruct the circumstances of the scene. The term taphonomy is a word
derived from the Greek words ‘táphos’ which means ‘burial’ and ‘nomos’ which means ‘law’ which was
introduced in 1940 by soviet scientist ‘Ivan Efremov’ to study the changes of remaining organisms.
Developed within the disciplines of palaeontology archaeology and paleonarcheology. Forensic
taphonomy is a sub-field of anthropology which includes archaeology application of archaeological
searches and its required sub-field techniques and its laboratory analysis in found remains and
understanding the transition of bones and the soft tissues. Forensic taphonomy frequently includes the
application of disciplines in other physical science. Taphonomy is mostly focusing on environmental
effects like decomposition in soil, and water and some interactions with other plants or insects or animals.
Branches of Forensic Taphonomy
There are two Branches in forensic taphonomy which are bio taphonomy and geo taphonomy: -
i ) Bio Taphonomy :
In this bio taphonomist , study the cadavers remains to discover how the soft and hard tissues
are decomposed. Like Environmental factors ( climate or animals or plants), individual factors ( age or
health or body mass ) cultural factors ( autopsy processes or funeral activities ).
ii ) Geo taphonomy :
In this geotaphonomist , study how and what are the factors that affected the geological
environment like how the person who buries a body affects the environment or how the body itself affects
the environment. It most commonly includes soil disturbances , disruption in vegetative growth ,
variation in ph of the soil etc...
Stages of Taphonomy :
There are five main stages in taphonomy :-
i ) Disarticulation :- It happens when the cadaver decays and the bones are separated from the flesh
and tendons of organisms.
