title: The Stone Cold Truth: The Effect of Concrete Encasement on the Rate and Pattern of Soft Tissue Decomposition.
abstract: This study provides a descriptive analysis of taphonomic changes observed in the soft tissue of ten pigs (Sus scrofa) after being encased in Quickrete (®) concrete and excavated at monthly or bimonthly intervals over the course of 2 years. The best method of subject excavation was investigated. Rate and pattern of decomposition were compared to a nonencased control subject. Results demonstrate subjects interred in concrete decomposed significantly slower than the control subject (p < 0.01), the difference being observable after 1 month. After 1 year, the encased subject was in the early stage of decomposition with purging fluids and intact organs present, versus complete skeletonization of the control subject. Concrete subjects also display a unique decomposition pattern, exhibiting a chemically burned outer layer of skin and a common separation of the dermal and epidermal layers. Results suggest using traditional methods to estimate postmortem interval on concrete subjects may result in underestimation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Southern Illinois University, 1000 Faner Drive, Mail Code 4502, Carbondale, IL, 62901.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Southern Illinois University, 1000 Faner Drive, Mail Code 4502, Carbondale, IL, 62901.
authors.forename: Gretchen R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dabbs
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Southern Illinois University, 1000 Faner Drive, Mail Code 4502, Carbondale, IL, 62901.
authors.forename: Lindsey G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Southern Illinois University, 1000 Faner Drive, Mail Code 4502, Carbondale, IL, 62901.
authors.forename: Megan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Cleary
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002048:Burial; D003252:Construction Materials; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D023421:Models, Animal; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013552:Swine
keywords: cement burns; clandestine burial; concrete burial; concrete encasement; forensic anthropology; forensic science; forensic taphonomy