Department of Sociology and Anthropology, NC State University, CB 8107, Raleigh, NC 27695-8107, United States.
Forensic Sci Int. 2011 Jan 30;204(1-3):126-33. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.05.018. Epub 2010 Jun 19.
The structural breakdown of skeletal remains follows a lengthy decomposition process, progressing from the appearance of cracking along the bone to complete loss of shape and skeletal integrity, that can occur in as early as 6 years or as long as 30. The length of time a set of skeletal remains takes to decompose depends heavily upon its micro-environment, the local context in which decomposition agents act on remains. Critical changes in the micro-context can drastically increase or slow the process. The burial of remains below the surface has been found to effectively shut out many of the most destructive decaying agents, such as the natural elements and insect and animal activity. This causes an increase in the amount of time needed to breakdown the skeletal remains. A better understanding of the decomposition process in varying micro-contexts is important for the ability to correctly estimate time since burial. This can aid not only in understanding of archaeological remains, but also in the identification of individuals in modern forensic and human rights cases. This study details the observations made during the excavation and analysis of burials on the Isla de Coiba off the coast of Panama. The excavation took place during the summer 2003 in an effort to identify several individuals who were believed to be part of the 'disappeared', people who went missing and believed to have been murdered under orders by the Torrijos and Noriega military regimes. Through the fieldwork analysis a decomposition timeline, specific for the Coiba micro-environment, was created. This new set of stages can be used to estimate time since burial in other areas whose local context is similar to that found on Coiba.
骨骼残骸的结构分解遵循一个漫长的分解过程，从骨骼表面出现裂缝开始，最终完全失去形状和骨骼完整性，这个过程可能早在 6 年内发生，也可能长达 30 年。一组骨骼残骸分解所需的时间在很大程度上取决于其微环境，即分解剂作用于残骸的局部环境。微环境的关键变化可以极大地加速或减缓这个过程。将遗骸埋葬在地表以下已被发现可以有效地阻止许多最具破坏性的腐烂剂，如自然元素、昆虫和动物活动。这导致分解骨骼残骸所需的时间增加。更好地了解不同微环境中的分解过程对于正确估计埋葬后的时间非常重要。这不仅有助于理解考古遗骸，还有助于在现代法医和人权案件中识别个人。本研究详细介绍了在巴拿马海岸科伊巴岛挖掘和分析埋葬物时的观察结果。挖掘工作于 2003 年夏季进行，目的是确定几名被认为是“失踪”人员的身份，这些人失踪了，据信是在托里霍斯和诺列加军事政权的命令下被谋杀的。通过野外工作分析，创建了一个特定于科伊巴微环境的分解时间表。这一组新的阶段可用于估计其他局部环境与科伊巴相似的地区的埋葬后时间。
