Skeletonization

In a temperate climate, it usually requires three weeks to several years for a body to completely decompose into a skeleton, depending on factors such as temperature, humidity, presence of insects, and submergence in a substrate such as water. In tropical climates, skeletonization can occur in weeks, while in tundra areas, skeletonization may take years or may never occur, if freezing temperatures persist. Natural embalming processes in peat bogs or salt deserts can delay the process indefinitely, sometimes resulting in natural mummification. The rate of skeletonization and the present condition of a corpse or carcass can be used to determine the time of death. Skeletonization occurs much quicker if vertebrate scavengers consume the corpse's flesh. A large flock of vultures can reduce a human corpse or carcass to a skeleton within few hours. After skeletonization, if scavenging animals do not destroy or remove the bones, acids in many fertile soils take about 20 years to completely dissolve the skeleton of mid- to large-size mammals, such as humans, leaving no trace of the organism. In neutral-pH soil or sand, the skeleton can persist for hundreds of years before it finally disintegrates. Alternately, especially in very fine, dry, salty, anoxic, or mildly alkaline soils, bones may undergo fossilization, converting into minerals that may persist indefinitely. == Classification procedures of skeletal significance ==

Before analysing skeletal remains, it is essential to categorise the skeletal remains for its respective discipline for further investigation. In other words, researchers have to determine the skeletal remains’ significance. There are key procedures to follow in order to categorise the skeletal remains. First, extraneous materials that are not bones or teeth should be extinguished. Subsequently, researchers need to identify human bones from skeletal remains. Human bones will be examined for their significance deemed for forensic investigation purposes only. A microscope can be used to examine whether there is an absence of graininess that will only appear on a bone's surface. The clothing that is being left with the skeletons must be contemporary clothing, absence of mortuary artefacts and buried in a discordant body posture. The place of burial, physical characteristics and artefacts next to the skeletal remains will be taken into consideration to determine its forensic significance. Archaeological significance evaluation If the skeletal remains are deemed as materials that have no forensic significance, the skeletal remains will proceed to an examination of its archaeological significance. This will be determined if the skeletal remains are situated in a burial setting and the presence of accompanied artefacts beside the skeletons. == Indications ==

The following information listed below is the information that was derived from skeletons. Sex The pelvis tends to display sexually dimorphic characteristics, and thus can be used to infer the sex of the skeleton. Specifically, the hip bone is dissected into three segments which are the sacroiliac segment, ischiopubic segment and acetabular segment., so male humans benefit from a narrower pelvis. However, a narrow pelvis hinders childbirth, so female humans benefit from a pelvis that balances efficient locomotion with safe reproduction. Consequently, males tend to have stronger mastoid processes on the sides, with nuchal crests and glabellae located in the front and the back respectively. Analysing trauma provides insight in detecting and explaining the lesions on the deceased individual or a respective population. The occurrence of trauma is dissected into three stages which are ante- mortem, peri- mortem and post- mortem trauma. Individual health, family genetics and environmental stressors affect the skeleton age. In order to investigate if there is an evidence of growth and development on the skeletons, the evolving pattern and fusion of ossification centers can be used to determine that the skeletons are developed. Thus, this means the skeletons are proven to be entering the stage of maturation. == Preservation ==

Skeletons should be carefully managed and protected in order to retain their original state for further research purposes in any circumstances, for instance: educational, archaeological, forensic research. Applying the same case for animal skeletons, there are procedures to follow in the aim of ensuring the skeletal remains are reserved carefully for research purposes in the future. There are various possible sizes of collections that researchers might want to reserve for future investigation. Next, bones should be carefully labelled and avoid chemical substances that will affect the original state of the bone that will affect accuracy of future investigation. == Ethics and work integrity ==

Cultural and social factors affect the objectivity principle required to investigate a corpse. An ethical dilemma exists when forensic anthropologists and mortuary archaeologists need to adapt to the cultural context that they are working in respectively while obliged to uphold objectivity when they are engaging in skeletal analysis. Both forensic anthropologists and mortuary archaeologists should not enable the working conditions of a particular environment justifying their standard of investigation process. == References ==