NCJ Number
139758
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 37 Issue: 6 Dated: (November 1992) Pages: 1459-1465
Date Published
1992
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article presents three case examples of postmortem disturbance of human remains to demonstrate a spectrum of rodent damage to dry and fresh bone as well as to fresh and mummified soft tissue.
Abstract
Activities of rodents can affect skeletal element recovery, human identification, and interpretation of antemortem artifacts. Postmortem gnaw marks of carnivores and rodents can usually be readily distinguished. Bone gnawing by rodents can often be distinguished from that of carnivores by a characteristic parallel series of furrows created by the incisors. Rodent damage to soft tissue is evidenced by layered destruction of tissue layers. One of the cases presented shows margins that are marked by a series of crenellations and an absence of scratch marks beyond damaged areas. By contrast, canid damage to soft tissue is often accompanied by claw-induced, linear scratch- type abrasions or puncture marks from canine teeth beyond consumed margins. These marks are often v-shaped. Margins of carnivore-damaged soft tissue tend to be relatively more ragged. Although dispersal of skeletal elements by rodents was not observed in the cases presented, it has been found in other cases known to the author. Small bones of the hands and feet have been found in rodent burrows. Although determination of rodent species from gnaw marks in bone is unreliable, species identification may be aided by rodent excrement and hair. Rodent species identification and knowledge of seasonal behavior may, especially in instances of hibernating species, assist investigators in determining the season of rodent-induced damage. Recent gnawing activity on bony surfaces previously discolored from long exposure may also enable investigators to make inferences about the postmortem exposure interval. 1 table and 24 references