title: Taphonomic Patterning of Cemetery Remains Received at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Boston, Massachusetts.
abstract: A sample of 49 cases of cemetery remains received at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Massachusetts (OCME-MA), in Boston was compared with published taphonomic profiles of cemetery remains. The present sample is composed of a cross section of typical cases in this region that ultimately are derived from modern to historical coffin burials and get turned over to or seized by law enforcement. The present sample was composed of a large portion of isolated remains, and most were completely skeletonized. The most prevalent taphonomic characteristics included uniform staining (77.6%), coffin wear (46.9%), and cortical Exfoliation (49.0%). Other taphonomic changes occurring due to later surface exposure of cemetery remains included subaerial weathering, animal gnawing, algae formation, and excavation marks. A case of one set of skeletal remains associated with coffin artifacts and cemetery offerings that was recovered from transported cemetery fill is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 720 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118.|Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, L1004, Boston, MA, 02118.
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Pokines
authors.affiliation: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 310 Worchester Avenue, Bldg. 45, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Honolulu, HI, 96853.
authors.forename: Debra Prince
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Zinni
authors.affiliation: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 720 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crowley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones; D001900:Boston; D055699:Cemeteries; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D011180:Postmortem Changes
keywords: cemetery remains; coffin wear; forensic anthropology; forensic science; skeletal preservation; taphonomy