Plants to Remotely Detect Human Decomposition?

Human body is a complex of organic substances (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates), which undergo chemical decomposition processes soon after death. The compounds released during decomposition characterize the development of different stages of this process: e.g. biogenic amines resulted from the proteins decomposition will confer the particular smell of a cadaver, gases resulted from carbohydrates fermentation will give the bloating aspect of the cadaver. The study of cadaver decomposition and the products resulted from this process is the subject of human taphonomy and is realized nowadays in special facilities in USA and Australia. Identification and analysis of the chemical compounds emerged after human decomposition (gases, liquids, salts) give valuable information to forensic pathologists for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). More, volatile compounds � which give the odor signature�specific to human remains � may be utilized in identifying clandestine burials, human remains or victims entrapped under ruins in cases of natural disasters. In this paper the authors describe the chemical decomposition stages of human cadavers, the factors influencing these processes and utility for the forensic activity of the results of human taphonomic studies.

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Estimation of the postmortem interval based on the human decomposition process

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.jflm.2018.12.004 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 61 ◽

pp. 122-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

H.T. Gelderman ◽

C.A. Kruiver ◽

R.J. Oostra ◽

M.P. Zeegers ◽

W.L.J.M. Duijst

Keyword(s):

Postmortem Interval ◽

Decomposition Process ◽

Human Decomposition

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First record ofPhormia regina(Meigen, 1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from mummies at the Sant’Antonio Abate Cathedral of Castelsardo, Sardinia, Italy

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.4176 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e4176 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Giorgia Giordani ◽

Fabiola Tuccia ◽

Ignazio Floris ◽

Stefano Vanin

Keyword(s):

Warm Season ◽

First Record ◽

Phormia Regina ◽

Calliphora Vicina ◽

Single Specimen ◽

The Past ◽

Human Decomposition ◽

The Family ◽

The Moment ◽

Biodiversity Changes

The studies of insects from archaeological contexts can provide an important supplement of information to reconstruct past events, climate and environments. Furthermore, the list of the species present in an area in the past allows the reconstruction of the entomofauna on that area at that time, that can be different from the nowadays condition, providing information about biodiversity changes. In this work, the results of a funerary archaeoentomological study on samples collected from mummified corpses discovered during the restoration of the crypt of the Sant’Antonio Abate Cathedral of Castelsardo (Sardinia, Italy) are reported. The majority of the sampled specimens were Diptera puparia, whereas only few Lepidoptera cocoons and some Coleoptera fragments were isolated. Among Diptera, Calliphoridae puparia were identified asPhormia regina(Meigen, 1826) andCalliphora vicina, (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) both species typical of the first colonization waves of exposed bodies. Three puparia fragments were also identified as belonging to aSarcophagaMeigen, 1826, species (Sarcophagidae). Several Muscidae puparia of the speciesHydrotaea capensis(Weidmermann, 1818), a late colonizer of bodies, and typical of buried bodies were also collected. The few moth (Lepidoptera) cocoons were identified as belonging to the family Tineidae. This family comprises species feeding on dry tissues and hair typical of the later phases of the human decomposition. Among Coleoptera a single specimen in the family Histeridae,Saprinus semistriatus(Scriba, 1790) and a single elytra, potentially of a species in the family Tenebrionidae, were also collected. Overall, the samples collected indicated an initial colonization of the bodies in an exposed context, mainly in a warm season. This research allows the finding of elements indicating the presence, at least in the past, ofP. reginain Sardinia. This species at the moment seems extinct from Sardinia while it is quite common in the continent.

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