Using Vegetation to Date Clandestine Graves
Mushrooms, aging roots, damaged wood, and other plants: all of these can be used to determine the critical component of postmortem interval (PMI) in clandestine grave investigations. If investigators are able to find the grave within 24 hours of death, pathologists can estimate the time of death. When dealing with shallow graves, forensic entomologists may be able to use insect succession and development to estimate PMI. For graves discovered beyond 24 hours of death, forensic anthropologists are called in to assist with estimating the PMI based on rate of decay and condition of the remains. Investigators must also be familiar with using biological matter, such as pollen, as a tool to estimate the season when a clandestine grave was created.
Source: forensicmag.com
Citation:
Ward, J.S. Forensic Magazine. Using Vegetation to Date Clandestine Graves. Retrieved May 29, 2013, from http://www.forensicmag.com/article/using-vegetation-date-clandestine-graves?et_cid=3281901&et_rid=515363537&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.forensicmag.com%2farticle%2fusing-vegetation-date-clandestine-graves&location=top
