...WM Bass, Ph.D.; RL Jantz, Ph.D. In spite of increasing number of cremations in the U.S., little is known about weights of cremated remains. This research was undertaken in order to add to the limited literature on cremains weights and to explore variation. Weights of cremated remains were obtained...

... sequence patterns for the head. In addition to testing intact vaults, a percentage were selectively traumatized to introduce the variables of soft tissue disruption, fractures, impact marks, and incisions throughout the cremation process. Skeletal materials were recovered, reconstructed, and correlated...

... to five blows with a cleaver and five cuts with a knife prior to burning in an outdoor fire. Bones were deliberately agitated to ensure maximum cremation and induce fragmentation. Results indicate that hacking weakens bone, making fire-induced fragmentation more likely at the sites of trauma. Chop marks...

...MW Warren, Ph.D.; JJ Schultz, M.S. Contemporary commercial cremation is a reductive taphonomic process that represents one of the most extreme examples of postmortem human alteration of bone. The thorough reduction and fragmentation of cremated human remains often leaves little biological evidence...

... lunar age determination ossification centers diaphyseal length diaphyseal shrinkage carbonized bone calcined bone mortuary practice cremation forensic anthropology References Daya   S . Accuracy of gestational age estimation by means of fetal crown-rump length measurement . Am J...

...MW Warren, M.A.; WR Maples, Ph.D. This study establishes baseline parameters and examines those variables thought to influence cremains weights. Data were collected during the cremation of 100 individuals. A series of measurements was taken to determine relative skeletal robusticity. The weight...

...KA Murray; JC Rose, Ph.D. Cremation as a method of body disposition has increased over the last two decades. Mishandling of the remains is bringing the analysis of cremains to the attention of forensic anthropologists. The destruction of skeletal components by heat, and mechanical reduction, make...