The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Scavenging activity can produce predictable patterns in surface skeletal remains scattering: Observations and comments from two experiments
Open accessAbstract
In forensic contexts, surface deposited remains are frequently found that have been scattered by various taphonomic processes. In an effort to develop strategies to improve recovery rates, this study evaluates whether patterns can be detected in the scattering of remains due to scavenger activity. In two experiments, 24 human analogues (pig carcasses) were placed in two adjacent but differing environmental contexts: 12 in wooded and 12 in open grassland. Six carcasses in each of these contexts were dressed in human clothing. Elapsed time and direction of movement information for each carcass and its parts were collected and analyzed. Unclothed carcasses and carcasses in open contexts exhibited scavenger activity sooner than the others. Scattering of remains occurred along game trails and was directed away from human population and activity. Due to the highly variable nature of scavenger activity, daily observations during a research project are the key leading to a better understanding of the development of these patterns.
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Vertebrate and invertebrate activity and its potential to alter forensic contexts still seems underrepresented in forensic literature.
“vertebrate and invertebrate activity and its potential to alter forensic contexts still seems to be underrepresented in forensic literature”
From Forensic experiments on animal scavenging: A systematic literature review on what we have and what we need (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
Vertebrates can remove and scatter bones and body parts, complicating the search and potentially preventing full recovery.
“vertebrates can remove and scatter bones and body parts, complicating the search and potentially preventing a full recovery [7].”
From Forensic experiments on animal scavenging: A systematic literature review on what we have and what we need (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
Clothing delays vertebrate scavenging by restricting access.
“For instance, it seems to slow down decom position and alter insect colonisation patterns [64,92,162,163], taint animal bodies with human scent [50,61,91], and delay vertebrate scavenging by restricting access [7,92,103].”
From Forensic experiments on animal scavenging: A systematic literature review on what we have and what we need (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
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Indra, L., Lösch, S., Errickson, D., & Finaughty, D. (2023) · Forensic Science International · doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111862 · Cited by 18
Metadata
- Authors
- Kjorlien, Y. P., Beattie, O. B., & Peterson, A. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Alberta (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Beattie, Owen B.
- ORCID
- Kjorlien, Yvonne P.
- Venue
- Forensic Science International
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-07
- Volume
- 188
- Issue
- 1-3
- Pages
- 103-106
- ISSN
- 0379-0738 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1986060422
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Forensic Science International (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Libraries and Cultural Resources (University of Calgary) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Libraries and Cultural Resources (University of Calgary) (cc-by)
- Funders
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Autopsy Techniques and Outcomes
- Keywords
- taphonomy, human remains recovery, pig carcasses, game trails
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Birds, Bone and Bones, Clothing, Environment, Feeding Behavior, Poaceae, Longitudinal Studies, Trees, Forensic Anthropology, Sus scrofa, Coyotes
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