A comparison of different maceration techniques on burnt remains

Abstract

Maceration is the process of removing soft tissue from bones so as to be able to study the skeletal elements. This is a necessary process in forensic anthropology because human skeletal remains can be used to create a biological profile that can aid in the identification of an unknown individual. The aim of this research was to determine the best method of maceration for burnt remains. Pigs’ trotters were burnt in an open flame and then macerated using a variety of maceration techniques. After maceration, the results obtained were scored on a macroscopic scoring system to assess the damage caused by each of the techniques employed. The maceration technique that caused the least amount of exogenous damage to the skeletal elements was that using plain tap water at a temperature of 80℃. The addition of chemical or enzymatic agents, or an increase in the length of time that the remains were immersed in a solution, had a deleterious effect on the bones.