Felid scavenging in forensic taphonomic research: an experimental approach

dc.contributor.authorErrickson, David
dc.contributor.authorLawrence, L.
dc.contributor.authorIndra, L.
dc.contributor.authorThompson, Tim J. U.
dc.date.accessioned2024-11-26T16:39:10Z
dc.date.available2024-11-26T16:39:10Z
dc.date.freetoread2024-11-26
dc.date.issued2024-12-01
dc.date.pubOnline2024-11-09
dc.description.abstractAnimal scavenging on human remains presents a major challenge at a forensic scene. These lasting changes can influence the interpretation of a post-mortem interval, the overall state of the remains and any associated evidence, impacting the integrity of the scene. Therefore, identifying taphonomic related changes due to animal scavenging is important to understand the post-deposition sequence of events. However, knowing where to look is challenging and animal scavenging studies are difficult to create. Therefore, this study worked in collaboration with zoological institutes in the UK to capture the scavenging changes to horse bone, focussing on the locations of scavenging on bone and the characteristics left. This study focused on large felid (cheetah, lion, tiger, leopard) scavenging, which is less documented in comparison to canine scavenging. This research demonstrated the distribution patterns of tooth activity associated with large felid scavenging is consistent with those reported in the taphonomic literature on lions. Specifically, pits, punctures, scalloping and furrowing were found and characteristics were frequently noted at the borders and flat regions of bones. This study adds to the forensic discussion of scavenging. While focussing on large cats, the work demonstrates anatomical regions that may be affected by scavenging and the visual cues that may help identify animal interaction over human.
dc.description.journalNameForensic Science International
dc.identifier.citationErrickson D, Lawrence L, Indra L, Thompson TJU. (2024) Felid scavenging in forensic taphonomic research: an experimental approach. Forensic Science International, Volume 365, December 2024, Article number 112280
dc.identifier.elementsID558589
dc.identifier.issn0379-0738
dc.identifier.paperNo112280
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112280
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/23224
dc.identifier.volumeNo365
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073824003621?via%3Dihub
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject37 Earth Sciences
dc.subject31 Biological Sciences
dc.subject3702 Climate Change Science
dc.subjectLegal & Forensic Medicine
dc.titleFelid scavenging in forensic taphonomic research: an experimental approach
dc.typeArticle
dcterms.dateAccepted2024-10-28

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