Assessing post mortem interval of Sus domesticus in a Northern California environment

The complex relationship between the environment and decomposition rate results in a need for taphonomic studies in multiple environments to be performed. While taphonomic studies on human remains are prolific in the Midwest, a lack of knowledge upon the rates of decomposition in the west, specifically California, remains. This thesis investigates the rate of decomposition to produce a skeleton in Northern California and attempts to address how temperature and clothing impact decomposition rates utilizing clothed and nude domestic pig subjects. This experiment found that overall temperature, or microclimate, had a more significant impact upon decomposition rates than that of clothing. Although clothing did appear to provide a protective environment for necrophagous species. Subjects placed in full sunlight decomposed at an accelerated rate in early stages of decomposition when compared to their shaded counterparts, however those in lull shade reached skeletonization prior to those in full sun due to mummification which retarded the rate of decomposition for the pair in direct sunlight. This study advises that estimations of Post Mortem Interval on subjects found in direct sunlight be made with caution, due to the lack of changes noted in later stages of decomposition.