Patterns of Mortuary Practice Associated with Ethnoreligious Genocides of the Silk Roads: The Impact of Wrapping on the Decomposition of Body Parts
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2025
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| _version_ | 1866901482171793408 |
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| author | Franicevic, Branka |
| author_facet | Franicevic, Branka |
| contents | <p><span>Body part detachments caused by accelerated decay, as well as dismemberments, may alter the growth and activity of the microbial necrobiome in the absence of necessary gastrointestinal organs. The effect of depositional settings on the decomposition of individual body parts is, in addition, inadequately researched, leaving long-term implications for the recovery of mass grave remains. The present study is the second in a sequence of taphonomic reconstructions focusing on the role of microbial necrobiome in the decay of detached body parts. It assessed the early decomposition of wrapped remains using the domestic pig (<em>Sus scrofa</em>) as an animal analogue. The aim was to evaluate how the remains decompose under differing temperature levels, as tested by Total Viable Count, Gram stain, body part mass loss and gross morphological changes of soft tissue. It was hypothesised that an increase in temperature will not result in an increased decomposition rate. Statistical analyses yielded significant differences in biomass loss between the two microenvironments. The results further demonstrated differential decomposition between body parts and indicated that facultative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were responsible for the decay. The controls suggested a specific decay pattern in reduced oxygen settings. This study advances taphonomic knowledge of the postmortem history of wrapped body parts, aiding the recovery and identification of victims of genocide.</span></p> |
| format | Recurso digital |
| id | zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_16496753 |
| institution | Zenodo |
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| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Zenodo |
| record_format | zenodo |
| spellingShingle | Patterns of Mortuary Practice Associated with Ethnoreligious Genocides of the Silk Roads: The Impact of Wrapping on the Decomposition of Body Parts Franicevic, Branka <p><span>Body part detachments caused by accelerated decay, as well as dismemberments, may alter the growth and activity of the microbial necrobiome in the absence of necessary gastrointestinal organs. The effect of depositional settings on the decomposition of individual body parts is, in addition, inadequately researched, leaving long-term implications for the recovery of mass grave remains. The present study is the second in a sequence of taphonomic reconstructions focusing on the role of microbial necrobiome in the decay of detached body parts. It assessed the early decomposition of wrapped remains using the domestic pig (<em>Sus scrofa</em>) as an animal analogue. The aim was to evaluate how the remains decompose under differing temperature levels, as tested by Total Viable Count, Gram stain, body part mass loss and gross morphological changes of soft tissue. It was hypothesised that an increase in temperature will not result in an increased decomposition rate. Statistical analyses yielded significant differences in biomass loss between the two microenvironments. The results further demonstrated differential decomposition between body parts and indicated that facultative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were responsible for the decay. The controls suggested a specific decay pattern in reduced oxygen settings. This study advances taphonomic knowledge of the postmortem history of wrapped body parts, aiding the recovery and identification of victims of genocide.</span></p> |
| title | Patterns of Mortuary Practice Associated with Ethnoreligious Genocides of the Silk Roads: The Impact of Wrapping on the Decomposition of Body Parts |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16496753 |