Willey P, Snyder L M
Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
J Forensic Sci. 1989 Jul;34(4):894-901.
Time-since-death estimations are usually based on physical decomposition of the corpse, insect succession, and contextual associations. The rates of change and succession are based on decomposition studies, most of which control access of scavengers to the corpse; however, many naturally exposed corpses are subject to scavenger modification. These modifications change the rate of decomposition, the pattern of insect succession, and the context of associations, thus altering estimations of time since death. A controlled feeding study with captive wolves and road-killed deer is pertinent to understanding canid scavenging and how scavenging may alter postmortem changes. During feeding, the wolves commonly dismember and devour the deer in a predictable sequence. Although there are some variations in the usual sequence, the carcass is always moved, and skeletal elements are separated, diminished in size and scattered. Scavenging must, therefore, be considered in estimating time since death.
死亡时间的估算通常基于尸体的物理分解、昆虫演替以及情境关联。变化和演替的速率基于分解研究，其中大多数研究控制了食腐动物接触尸体的情况；然而，许多自然暴露的尸体都会受到食腐动物的改变。这些改变会改变分解速率、昆虫演替模式以及关联情境，从而改变死亡时间的估算。一项对圈养狼和道路死亡鹿进行的对照喂食研究，对于理解犬科动物的食腐行为以及食腐如何改变死后变化具有重要意义。在喂食过程中，狼通常会按照可预测的顺序肢解并吞食鹿。尽管通常的顺序存在一些变化，但尸体总是会被移动，骨骼元素会被分离、变小并散落。因此，在估算死亡时间时必须考虑食腐行为。
