{"showCoverPage":false,"bookCover":{},"chapters":[{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"params":{"text":"

In Week 4, you learned about taphonomic processes<\/strong> that affect the body after death -- and specifically those that have significance in a medicolegal context by providing information on:<\/p>\n\n

\n\t
time elapsed since death (the postmortem interval)<\/li>\n\t
The peri & postmortem environments<\/li>\n\t
Post- mortem alterations - which are significant, versus non-significant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Learning Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
By the end of this activity you will have practiced how to:<\/p>\n\n
\n\t
Identify common taphonomic processes by their characteristics<\/li>\n\t
Assess the stages of post-mortem physical changes <\/li>\n\t
Demonstrate how to estimate Post Mortem Interval using the TBS \/ ADD Method<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

\nMaterials you will need<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n\t
Textbook, chapter 5<\/li>\n\t
A downloaded coy of the PMI Estimator<\/a> spreadsheet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"956f4dd3-c028-4f01-ac08-d829de2fb010"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.18","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Week 4 Virtual Lab Introduction"},"subContentId":"e965972c-0fe3-43ef-9860-7ba25e1db7b8"},{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"params":{"introPage":{"showIntroPage":false,"startButtonText":"Start Quiz","title":"Part 1: Defining & Identifying Taphonomy","introduction":"
This section will review the definition of \"taphonomy\", key taphonomic processes, and their characteristic signatures.<\/p>\n"},"progressType":"dots","passPercentage":50,"questions":[{"params":{"media":{"disableImageZooming":false},"solution":{"sample":"
\"Taphonomy\" is nicely summarized as the \"laws of burial\". In short, it is a field of science that studies the processes that affect organic remains in their transition from the biosphere (life) to the lithosphere (the geologic record, usually through decomposition and\/or fossilization). <\/div>\n\n
<\/div>\n\n
As your textbook explains: \u201cforensic taphonomy is often used to refer to the study of postmortem processes which affect the state of preservation and recovery of human remains, which helps in reconstructing the circumstances surrounding the death event (Haglund and Sorg, 1997). Forensic taphonomy is therefore essentially the study and interpretation of postmortem modifications to the body.\"(Christensen et al. 2019, p.145)<\/div>\n\n

\nAgents include: endogenous enzymes; gut bacteria, arthropods, microfauna (small mammals, amphibians, reptiles), macrofauna, humans, water, wind, gravity, soil chemistry, ambient temperature, sun, plants<\/div>\n","introduction":""},"keywords":[{"options":{"points":1,"occurrences":1,"caseSensitive":true,"forgiveMistakes":false,"feedbackIncludedWord":"keyword","feedbackMissedWord":"none"}}],"overallFeedback":[{"from":0,"to":100}],"behaviour":{"inputFieldSize":"10","enableRetry":true,"ignoreScoring":false,"pointsHost":1},"checkAnswer":"Check","tryAgain":"Retry","showSolution":"Show solution","feedbackHeader":"Feedback","solutionTitle":"Sample solution","remainingChars":"Remaining characters: @chars","notEnoughChars":"You must enter at least @chars characters!","messageSave":"saved","ariaYourResult":"You got @score out of @total points","ariaNavigatedToSolution":"Navigated to newly included sample solution after textarea.","taskDescription":"
Define \u201cforensic taphonomy\u201d and list some of the agents what can contribute to taphonomic changes in a deceased body<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.Essay 1.5","metadata":{"contentType":"Essay","license":"U","title":"Defining Taphonomy"},"subContentId":"0f81e484-6e30-4541-a54d-67bfb61943bb"},{"params":{"media":{"type":{"params":{"contentName":"Image","file":{"path":"images\/file-601db4773ec48.png","mime":"image\/png","copyright":{"license":"U"},"width":1784,"height":1172},"alt":"Image of four bones with different taphonomic effects"},"library":"H5P.Image 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Image","license":"U","title":"Untitled Image"},"subContentId":"fefe6ed8-0a65-45e4-beba-a8f92ec22b18"},"disableImageZooming":false},"solution":{"introduction":"
See sample solution!<\/div>\n","sample":"
A) plant root etching<\/div>\n\n
B) Carnivore carnassial tooth impressions<\/div>\n\n
C) Rodent gnawing<\/div>\n\n
C) V-shaped repeated incisions: cut marks<\/div>\n\n
<\/div>\n\n
All of the specimens pictured also show staining that likely occurred through burial and exposure to soil processes.<\/div>\n"},"keywords":[{"options":{"points":1,"occurrences":1,"caseSensitive":true,"forgiveMistakes":false,"feedbackIncludedWord":"keyword","feedbackMissedWord":"none"}}],"overallFeedback":[{"from":0,"to":100}],"behaviour":{"inputFieldSize":"10","enableRetry":true,"ignoreScoring":false,"pointsHost":1},"checkAnswer":"Check","tryAgain":"Retry","showSolution":"Show solution","feedbackHeader":"Feedback","solutionTitle":"Sample solution","remainingChars":"Remaining characters: @chars","notEnoughChars":"You must enter at least @chars characters!","messageSave":"saved","ariaYourResult":"You got @score out of @total points","ariaNavigatedToSolution":"Navigated to newly included sample solution after textarea.","taskDescription":"
Examine the image above. Which taphonomic agents (physical, chemica, and\/or organismal) do you think may have been at work on these four bones? Are any of them potentially medicolegally significant?<\/p>\n","placeholderText":"A)B)"},"library":"H5P.Essay 1.5","metadata":{"contentType":"Essay","license":"U","title":"Assess Taphonomic Agents"},"subContentId":"3a3656c1-a8d6-4913-8a23-c3dc59021afb"}],"disableBackwardsNavigation":false,"randomQuestions":false,"endGame":{"showResultPage":true,"showSolutionButton":true,"showRetryButton":true,"noResultMessage":"Finished","message":"Your result:","overallFeedback":[{"from":0,"to":100}],"solutionButtonText":"Show solution","retryButtonText":"Retry","finishButtonText":"Finish","showAnimations":false,"skippable":false,"skipButtonText":"Skip video"},"texts":{"prevButton":"Previous question","nextButton":"Next question","finishButton":"Finish","textualProgress":"Question: @current of @total questions","jumpToQuestion":"Question %d of %total","questionLabel":"Question","readSpeakerProgress":"Question @current of @total","unansweredText":"Unanswered","answeredText":"Answered","currentQuestionText":"Current question"},"override":{"checkButton":true}},"library":"H5P.QuestionSet 1.20","metadata":{"contentType":"Question Set","license":"U","title":"Part 1: Defining & Identifying Taphonomy"},"subContentId":"8f372436-49d6-4025-91ed-3fa4210b1d9d"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.18","subContentId":"7752a26f-9a4d-4ca3-805a-6dcd794fe5b2","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Part 1: Defining & Identifying Taphonomy"}},{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"params":{"introPage":{"showIntroPage":true,"startButtonText":"Start Quiz","title":"Part 2: Estimating PMI","introduction":"
This section will walk you through the process of estimating the post-mortem interval using Megyesi et al.'s \"Accumulated Degree Days\" (ADD) method. You will follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n
- Assess a set of remains for their stage of decomposition using the \"Total Body Decomposition Score\" (TBS) method.<\/p>\n\n
- Use the \"PMI Estimator\" spreadsheet to calculate the ADD estimate that corresponds to your TBS score. This is your average ADD<\/strong> estimate. You also need to include an error term<\/strong> called a confidence interval<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n
- Look up the same TBS score in the table provided in the textbook (table 5.6). You'll notice its average ADD is the same as the one you calculated! Copy the confidence interval. <\/p>\n\n
- Use the monthly temperature data provided to calculate the average ADDs per month for the area local to where your case was found. <\/p>\n\n
- Starting with the \"recovery date\", sum the monthly ADDs for that month and all previous months, until you reach the local ADD value that is closest to the average ADD estimate that you calculated using the ADD formula. Round to the nearest half month.<\/p>\n\n
- Do the same for the upper and lower limits of the 95% confidence interval (from table 5.6). <\/p>\n\n
- Count up the number of months that you had to go back from your recovery date, to determine the time to your average ADD, and upper and lower confidence limits. This is your estimate of Post-Mortem Interval<\/strong> and its associated margin of error!<\/p>\n","backgroundImage":{"path":"images\/backgroundImage-601da7b813503.png","mime":"image\/png","copyright":{"license":"U"},"width":1938,"height":806}},"progressType":"dots","passPercentage":50,"questions":[{"params":{"media":{"type":{"params":{"contentName":"Image","file":{"path":"images\/file-601da7f588b85.png","mime":"image\/png","copyright":{"license":"U"},"width":1938,"height":806},"alt":"Image of a skeleton with adhering dried soft tissue and evidence of splintering at the costochrondral junction of the ribs"},"library":"H5P.Image 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Image","license":"U","title":"Untitled Image"},"subContentId":"39e91959-b80b-41e5-b336-d260421e86d1"},"disableImageZooming":false},"solution":{"sample":"
This body is mostly skeletonized, with some adhering soft tissue that appears mostly desiccated, and appears to be fairly complete. The costal cartilages are also still present. The bone does not appear bleached, cracked, or stained, and still has a greasy gloss to it. Weathering has been minimal. <\/div>\n\n
<\/div>\n\n
Using the TBS tables, I arrived at the following assessment. Yours may differ by a point or two.<\/div>\n\n

\nHead and Neck =10
\nTrunk = 10
\nLimbs = 9
\nTotal = 29
\n <\/div>\n","introduction":""},"keywords":[{"options":{"points":1,"occurrences":1,"caseSensitive":true,"forgiveMistakes":false,"feedbackIncludedWord":"keyword","feedbackMissedWord":"none"}}],"overallFeedback":[{"from":0,"to":100}],"behaviour":{"inputFieldSize":"10","enableRetry":true,"ignoreScoring":false,"pointsHost":1},"checkAnswer":"Check","tryAgain":"Retry","showSolution":"Show solution","feedbackHeader":"Feedback","solutionTitle":"Sample solution","remainingChars":"Remaining characters: @chars","notEnoughChars":"You must enter at least @chars characters!","messageSave":"saved","ariaYourResult":"You got @score out of @total points","ariaNavigatedToSolution":"Navigated to newly included sample solution after textarea.","taskDescription":"
This skeleton was recovered from an outdoor temperate environment near Pitt Meadows, in BC's Fraser Valley area. It was recovered on June 30 2019. <\/p>\n\n
Use the TBS Scores tables in your textbook (pp.165-167) to score the Head, Limbs, and Trunk of these remains. Sum up the individual scores to get the Total Body Score and record it under Step 1 in your PMI Estimator spreadsheet<\/a>.<\/p>\n","placeholderText":"Enter your TBS here, to record it in the quiz!"},"library":"H5P.Essay 1.5","metadata":{"contentType":"Essay","license":"U","title":"Step 1: Scoring the Body for TBS"},"subContentId":"717ac77a-f01a-4de3-b392-2228bed94a9b"},{"params":{"media":{"type":{"params":{"contentName":"Image","file":{"path":"images\/file-601da7f588b85.png","mime":"image\/png","copyright":{"license":"U"},"width":1938,"height":806},"alt":"Image of a skeleton with adhering dried soft tissue and evidence of splintering at the costochrondral junction of the ribs"},"library":"H5P.Image 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Image","license":"U","title":"Untitled Image"},"subContentId":"20f92b63-b768-4c5a-a001-186382bc161d"},"disableImageZooming":false},"solution":{"sample":"
For a TBS of 29, <\/div>\n\n

\nAverage ADD = 3104.6
\nLower 95% CI = 2328.2
\nUpper 95% CI = 3880.9<\/div>\n","introduction":""},"keywords":[{"options":{"points":1,"occurrences":1,"caseSensitive":true,"forgiveMistakes":false,"feedbackIncludedWord":"keyword","feedbackMissedWord":"none"}}],"overallFeedback":[{"from":0,"to":100}],"behaviour":{"inputFieldSize":"10","enableRetry":true,"ignoreScoring":false,"pointsHost":1},"checkAnswer":"Check","tryAgain":"Retry","showSolution":"Show solution","feedbackHeader":"Feedback","solutionTitle":"Sample solution","remainingChars":"Remaining characters: @chars","notEnoughChars":"You must enter at least @chars characters!","messageSave":"saved","ariaYourResult":"You got @score out of @total points","ariaNavigatedToSolution":"Navigated to newly included sample solution after textarea.","taskDescription":"
The ADD that you have calculated (using the PMI Estimator, or by hand) is your average ADD, but you still need a confidence interval <\/u>for it.<\/p>\n\n
Look up this ADD (and corresponding TBS) in table 5.6 of your textbook. Record the confidence limits that correspond to your estimate in Step 3 of the PMI Estimator spreadsheet. <\/p>\n","placeholderText":"Record your scores here to keep track in this quiz!"},"library":"H5P.Essay 1.5","metadata":{"contentType":"Essay","license":"U","title":"Step 2: Determine ADD and its Confidence Limits"},"subContentId":"d2e71795-8616-4fa8-8b5f-065d9427c937"},{"params":{"media":{"disableImageZooming":false},"solution":{"sample":"
Ref ADD Sum ADD PMI
\nAverage 3,104.56 3054.6 11
\nLower 95% 2,328.20 2288.5 9.5
\nUpper 95% 3,880.90 3863.7 12.5<\/div>\n","introduction":""},"keywords":[{"options":{"points":1,"occurrences":1,"caseSensitive":true,"forgiveMistakes":false,"feedbackIncludedWord":"keyword","feedbackMissedWord":"none"}}],"overallFeedback":[{"from":0,"to":100}],"behaviour":{"inputFieldSize":"10","enableRetry":true,"ignoreScoring":false,"pointsHost":1},"checkAnswer":"Check","tryAgain":"Retry","showSolution":"Show solution","feedbackHeader":"Feedback","solutionTitle":"Sample solution","remainingChars":"Remaining characters: @chars","notEnoughChars":"You must enter at least @chars characters!","messageSave":"saved","ariaYourResult":"You got @score out of @total points","ariaNavigatedToSolution":"Navigated to newly included sample solution after textarea.","taskDescription":"
This is the most complex part of the process. Use the weather data provided in the PMI Estimator spreadsheet (tab 2: Lab 3) to calculate the average monthly ADDs, then sum them up from the recovery date<\/strong> of June 30 to determine the number of months required<\/u>, to get the closest local ADD value to your estimate from the formula. Do the same for the corresponding upper and lower limits of the confidence interval. Round to the nearest half month. This is your PMI!<\/p>\n\n
<\/p>\n\n
- Use the monthly temperature data provided to calculate the average ADDs per month<\/u> for the area local to where your case was found. <\/p>\n\n
- Starting with the \"recovery date\" (June 30 2019), sum the monthly ADDs for that month and all previous months, until you reach the local ADD value that is closest to the average ADD estimate that you calculated using the ADD formula. Round to the nearest half month.<\/p>\n\n
- Do the same for the upper and lower limits of the 95% confidence interval (from table 5.6). <\/p>\n\n
- Count up the number of months that you had to go back from your recovery date, to determine the time to your average ADD, and upper and lower confidence limits. This is your estimate of Post-Mortem Interval<\/strong> and its associated margin of error!<\/p>\n","placeholderText":"Record your results here to keep track!"},"library":"H5P.Essay 1.5","metadata":{"contentType":"Essay","license":"U","title":"Step 3: Use Weather Data to Calculate PMI!"},"subContentId":"57c0e2d1-41fb-4e32-9bde-9c467b69ba6f"}],"disableBackwardsNavigation":false,"randomQuestions":false,"endGame":{"showResultPage":true,"showSolutionButton":true,"showRetryButton":true,"noResultMessage":"Finished","message":"Your result:","overallFeedback":[{"from":0,"to":100}],"solutionButtonText":"Show solution","retryButtonText":"Retry","finishButtonText":"Finish","showAnimations":false,"skippable":false,"skipButtonText":"Skip video"},"texts":{"prevButton":"Previous question","nextButton":"Next question","finishButton":"Finish","textualProgress":"Question: @current of @total questions","jumpToQuestion":"Question %d of %total","questionLabel":"Question","readSpeakerProgress":"Question @current of @total","unansweredText":"Unanswered","answeredText":"Answered","currentQuestionText":"Current question"},"override":{"checkButton":true}},"library":"H5P.QuestionSet 1.20","metadata":{"contentType":"Question Set","license":"U","title":"Part 2: Estimating PMI"},"subContentId":"021000c9-5fc1-41c2-b18d-8fd2a4de04b1"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.18","subContentId":"acb3bb48-42ab-484d-9e22-bf6095cf203e","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Part 2: Estimating PMI"}}],"behaviour":{"defaultTableOfContents":true,"progressIndicators":true,"progressAuto":true,"displaySummary":true},"read":"Read","displayTOC":"Display 'Table of contents'","hideTOC":"Hide 'Table of contents'","nextPage":"Next page","previousPage":"Previous page","chapterCompleted":"Page completed!","partCompleted":"@pages of @total completed","incompleteChapter":"Incomplete page","navigateToTop":"Navigate to the top","markAsFinished":"I have finished this page","fullscreen":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreen":"Exit fullscreen","bookProgressSubtext":"@count of @total pages","interactionsProgressSubtext":"@count of @total interactions","submitReport":"Submit Report","restartLabel":"Restart","summaryHeader":"Summary","allInteractions":"All interactions","unansweredInteractions":"Unanswered interactions","scoreText":"@score \/ @maxscore","leftOutOfTotalCompleted":"@left of @max interactions completed","noInteractions":"No interactions","score":"Score","summaryAndSubmit":"Summary & submit","noChapterInteractionBoldText":"You have not interacted with any pages.","noChapterInteractionText":"You have to interact with at least one page before you can see the summary.","yourAnswersAreSubmittedForReview":"Your answers are submitted for review!","bookProgress":"Book progress","interactionsProgress":"Interactions progress","totalScoreLabel":"Total score","a11y":{"progress":"Page @page of @total.","menu":"Toggle navigation menu"}}