The degree of destruction of human bodies in relation to the duration of the fire.
The changes occurring during cremation were watched and documented in 15 undissected bodies to be cremated. It was found that at temperatures between 670 and 810 degrees C the body showed the "pugilistic attitude" after about 10 minutes. After 20 minutes the calvaria was free from any soft tissue and fissures of the tabula externa could be noticed. The body cavities became visible after approximately 30 minutes, so that the organs were exposed. Forty minutes after cremation had started, the internal organs were severely shrunken and showed a net-like or sponge-like structure. After about 50 minutes the extremities were destroyed to an extent leaving only the torso which broke apart after 1-1.5 hours. The complete incineration of a human body took about 2-3 hours.
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
M
M
Bohnert
T
T
Rost
S
S
Pollak
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology*; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009027:Mortuary Practice; D019370:Observation; D010781:Photography; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors