Taphonomic Bone Staining and Color Changes in Forensic Contexts

Tosha L. Dupras, John J. Schultz

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

A component of forensic skeletal analysis is to identify various postmortem modifications and to reconstruct the depositional history of the remains. Describing any color changes associated with bones is important to this process, as it may provide clues when reconstructing the post-depositional environment of skeletal remains. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the common types of taphonomic bone stains and color changes and discuss the causative agents for those stains. The aim of this chapter is not to provide an exhaustive list of every example of stain that has been discussed in the literature but rather to highlight examples of bone staining such as organic, metal, and soil, which are more commonly encountered by the forensic anthropologist.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationManual of Forensic Taphonomy
Pages315-340
Number of pages26
ISBN (Electronic)9781439878439
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2013

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2013 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Social Sciences
  • General Arts and Humanities

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