Temperature estimations of heated bone: a questionnaire-based study of accuracy and precision of interpretation of bone colour by forensic and physical anthropologists

Information on the temperature to which human skeletal remains have been exposed can be important for the interpretation of archaeological and forensic deposits, for example for fragmentary remains recovered from a fire scene [1]. In such cases, an estimation of the temperature(s) of the fire can be useful in determining the likelihood of foul play [2]. Heat-related changes of bone have been extensively studied [3 –5]. Largely because of its simplicity the colour of a bone is the basis for the most commonly used techniques for estimating the temperature to which it was exposed.

Source: Legal Medicine - August 5, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Tristan Krap, Frank van de Goot, Roelof-Jan Oostra, Wilma Duijst, Andrea Waters-Rist Source Type: research