Time Since Death: A Novel Approach to Dating Skeletal Remains

Abstract

Criminal investigators dealing with skeletal remains have the primary concern for determining whether the remains are of anthropological or archaeological interest. If the remains are determined to be from an anthropological era, the next concern becomes the determination of time since death (TSD). Despite advances in modern technology, TSD remains a most elusive determinant. It has critical value for providing police with a time frame in which the person may have gone missing, increasing the likelihood of a positive identification. This article outlines a novel approach to dating skeletal remains in an Australian context, but with global connotations.