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Animated skeletons in The Dance of Death (1493), a woodcut by Michael Wolgemut, from the Liber chronicarum by Hartmann Schedel.. A skeleton is a type of physically manifested undead often found in fantasy, gothic, and horror fiction, as well as mythology, folklore, and various kinds of art.
Evidence of perimortal fractures (or fractures inflicted on a fresh corpse) can be distinguished in unhealed metal blade injuries to the bones. Living or freshly dead bones are somewhat resilient, so metal blade injuries to bone generate a linear cut with relatively clean edges rather than irregular shattering. [13]
In order to avoid non bone materials being misinterpreted as bones, the following methods are applied to increase the efficiency of distinguishing bones and non bone materials. [7] A microscope can be used to examine whether there is an absence of graininess that will only appear on a bone's surface. [7]
All cultures have a different way of disposing of the dead. These differences can stem from the environment that populations live in and their beliefs. One well known phrase, “the dead do not bury themselves,” means that the living places their ideas of the deceased as well as death on the burial practices. [5]
These sites are identifiable by a concentration of smaller bones (like fingers or toes), which would be the bones that would be the easiest to fall off the body, and that would not be noticed by practitioners of excarnation. [4] After colonization, the U.S. government made air burial illegal, as it conflicted with the nation's Christian ideals ...
The size and development stage of maggots can be used to give a measure of the minimum time since death. [9]: 251–252 Insect activity occurs in a series of waves, and identifying the insects present can give additional information on the postmortem interval. [10] Adipocere, or corpse wax, may be formed, inhibiting further decomposition.
It can also help populations today. Specifically, anthropologists have found signs of early arthritis on ancient remains. They believe this identification is beneficial for the early detection of arthritis in people today. [7] Some anthropologists feel that these discoveries will be lost with the reburial of human remains. [6] [7]
Charnel House at Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai The Chapel of Bones in Évora, Portugal Skulls in the still-used Hallstatt charnel house. After a short burial in the limited cemetery space, the bones are transferred and relatives decorate the skulls of their loved ones with names and flowers that are symbolic of some characteristic, such as love or bravery.