"Over the past 40 years, and through the establishment of multiple decomposition facilities throughout the world, anthropologists have striven to observe and explain the extensive variability seen in human decomposition. Patterns of human decomposition and the postmortem interval were first explained primarily through descriptive studies that focused on morphological differences observed throughout decomposition. In an attempt to meet the Daubert criteria [1] and to standardize practices within decomposition research, anthropologists later sought to ground observations and patterns of morphological changes in a statistical frameworks. This move, however, also gave rise to Newtonian research approaches, wherein researchers attempted to isolate single variables that were thought to drive human decomposition [2].
More recently, and in response to long-standing trends within forensic anthropology, several scholars have called for shifts in both research methodologies and research perspectives, encouraging movement away from traditional attempts to isolate singular drivers of decomposition, and towards more holistic approaches [3,4]. These calls outlined several key steps for future research including: greater incorporation of statistical methods, examination of extended postmortem intervals, collaborative and interdisciplinary research approaches, increased use of theory, and further consideration of (the numerous) ecological interactions at play in human decompositional environments [3,4].
This presentation examines the responses of researchers to the aforementioned calls to action, to implement considerable changes in our approaches to human decomposition research. This was accomplished through a literature search of published articles between the years 2018 and 2022 regarding terrestrial decomposition of human donors. Criteria were evaluated on the basis of standardized data collection, use of statistical frameworks, examination of extended postmortem intervals, emphasis on carrion ecology, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research efforts, and acknowledgement of limitations of animal models, if employed [4].
The results of this research indicate that further adaptation of these research methods is necessary moving forward, as not all human or animal surrogate investigations attempt to answer the aforementioned calls. The authors also echo previous calls for future research to move towards non-descriptive, systematic, statistically-backed, and validated studies from a multivariate approach. Additionally, in specific regard to postmortem interval estimation research, increased understanding of interactions between known variables involved in human decomposition research, and increased taphonomic research in general, is necessary before future researchers attempt to develop additional postmortem interval estimation models.
1. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, US Supreme Court 509. U.S.579,113S.Ct.2786, 125L, Ed.2d 469, 1993
2. Dautartas AM. 2018. A Comparison of Human and Domestic Pig Decomposition Using Multivariate Methods.Doctoral Dissertation, University of Tennessee.
3. Passalacqua NV, Megyesi MS. 2015. A look into the past, present, and future of decomposition research and the estimation of the postmortem interval. Proc Am Acad Forensic Sci. 20:93.
4. Wescott DJ. 2018. Recent advances in forensic anthropology: Decomposition research. Forensic Sciences Research 3:278–293. "