Stage 6: Decomposition

Decomposing corpse from Sally Mann’s series, ‘Body Farm’

In the 6th stage of decomposition, true decomposition or “biotic decomposition”, takes place. Biotic decomposition is breakdown of the body’s components into smaller and smaller components until the organic body is gone. This process is caused by living organisms, usually microorganisms. When the body is broken down by other, faster means such as cremation, alkaline hydrolysis/resomation, promessa, or other physical/chemical process, it is refered to as “abiotic decomposition”. The speed and success of biotic decomposition, as with most stages of the decomposition process, relies on many factors. Generally speaking, conditions which aid in the previous stage, Putrefaction also aid in biotic decomposition. The amount of bacteria in the body at time of death and ability to produce more bacteria postmortem plays a large role. For instance, if you eat a lot of meat, your corpse will contain and produce higher levels of bacteria than a vegan. The bodies of deceased newborns who have never been fed decompose very slowly because in most cases, they are “sterile”, or mostly void of bacteria in their system. However, if a newborn passes away but has been fed, their body tends to decompose much faster than average. If a corpse has been mutilated or obtained large, open wounds decomposition will take place more quickly because it allows easy entry for insects and microorganisms whereas clothing may slow the process. If a body is buried after beginning to decompose somewhat, it will complete more quickly than if the body was buried soon after death. Embalming will delay the process, as is its function, but if the body is left to the elements in open air with scavengers nearby to help the body breakdown, decomposition will complete very rapidly.

Decomposing corpse from Sally Mann’s series, ‘Body Farm’

Decomposition begins and ends slower in water than in open air. Warm, fresh and/or stagnant water aid slightly in the process, while cold water, salt water and/or running water slow decomposition. Deep water may cause a delay in the onset of biotic decomposition. Water contaminated by sewage will speed up the process. When in water, the skin on the hands and feet of the cadaver may become swollen and bleached. Within 2-4 days, “sleeving” becomes possible. Sleeving, also called “skin slippage”, refers to the loosening of decaying skin to the point that it will slough off in one piece, or made able to pull off as though it were a sleeve. After several weeks in the water, this skin can easily by stripped off, or sleeved, by the current or contact with objects such as rocks. Once skin slippage begins and the upper layer of epidermis has been sleeved off, it is incredibly difficult, if not impossible to obtain fingerprints in order to identify the deceased. Mold can also begin to form on a deceased body in water or a moist area, but usually only on exposed patches of skin. Generally, bodies left in water do not remain intact long due to crustaceans, fish, and water rats feeding on the corpse. “Casper’s Law”, also known as “Casper’s Ratio” suggests that if all other factors (clothing, contents of digestive system, lesions/abrasions, weather conditions, temperature, etc) is equal, bodies with free access to open air decompose twice as fast as in water, and eight times as fast as when buried.

Decomposing corpse from Sally Mann’s series, ‘Body Farm’

Find out what happens before Biotic Decomposition in Stage 1: Pallor Mortis, Stage 2: Algor Mortis, Stage 3: Rigor Mortis, Stage 4: Livor Mortis and Stage 5: Putrefaction
and in the final stage of decomposition, Stage 7: Skeletonization

Check out the NEW BOOK by The Post-Mortem Post’s Head Writer ‘Horrible History: Mass Suicides’ AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon Kindle!

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See more of Sally Mann’s series Body Farm

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like: Everybody Poops: The Post-Mortem Edition, Demystifying the Process of Dying and Burying the Dead is Killing the Planet

Stage 7: Skeletonization

Partially skeletonized corpse. Decomposing skin remains in some areas.

The 7th and final stage of decomposition, skeletonization, begins when soft tissue has dried and decayed to the point that parts of the skeleton are visible. Skeletonization is complete once all tissue has decomposed and all that is left of the corpse is bone. Remains may become reduced to bone in as little as three weeks but can take up to several years. Factors including temperature and environment determine the timeline of skeletonization. In a tropical climate the body may be reduced to bone in just a few weeks, in tundra, the process will take several years. Skeletonization may never occur if the corpse is in an environment with persistent subzero temperatures as seen in bodies left behind on Mt. Everest.

Body of George Herbert Leigh Mallory on Mt. Everest. Died on British expedition in 1924. His corpse (discovered May 1,1999) remains in pristine condition to this day due to extreme cold. Photo courtesy Atlas Obscura.

Instead of decomposing, remains of climbers who perished have been preserved due to the extreme cold and now act as trail markers up the treacherous mountainside. The bodies of those who die on Mt. Everest usually remain because an attempt to reach and recover the corpse would most likely prove to be unsuccessful, possibly resulting in another fatality. When the corpse is left in a peat bog or salt desert, skeletonization may be delayed, or natural embalming or spontaneous mummification can occur. The body may saponify, or become “adipocere” if left in certain environments, including a peat bog. This is a rare form of spontaneous mummification seen in the Mutter Museum’s “Soap Lady” who saponified in an alkaline, warm environment which was lacking air. While it is not common, it is possible for a corpse to undergo skeletonization in one area of the body, while experiencing some form of natural preservation in another.

The Soap Lady saponified, causing the corpse to become a soapy, wax-like substance called adipocere. Photo courtesy of the Mutter Museum.

In an area void of scavenging animals, bodies buried in acidic soil will take approximately 20 years to complete skeletonization and for bone to decompose to the point that practically no evidence of the body is left. In soil with a neutral PH level, a corpse can last as long as 100 years before bone has decayed almost completely. There is also a possibility bone may not deteriorate and the skeleton could instead become a fossil or crude oil.

Fully skeletonized corpse. Bones have begun to deteriorate. Photo courtesy Bones Don’t Lie.

 

Read about the Stages of Decomposition leading up to Skeletonization Stage 1: Pallor Mortis, Stage 2: Algor Mortis, Stage 3: Rigor Mortis, Stage 4: Livor Mortis, Stage 5: Putrefaction, and Stage 6: Biotic Decomposition 

Check out the NEW BOOK by The Post-Mortem Post’s Head Writer ‘Horrible History: Mass Suicides’ AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon Kindle!

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If you enjoyed this article, you may also like Pray the Decay Away: Incorruptible Corpses and Other Forms of Natural Postmortem Preservation,  Everybody Poops: The Post-Mortem Edition, Demystifying the Process of Dying and Burying the Dead is Killing the Planet.

How to Decay the Gool Ol’ Fashioned Way

If you’ve been keeping up with The Post-Mortem Post’s Decomposition Week Special, you already know all there is to know on the subject of Pallor Mortis, Algor Mortis, Rigor Mortis, Livor Mortis, Putrefaction, Biotic Decomposition and Skeletonization. We have good news for those of you who haven’t gotten your decomposition fix just yet because now we will move on to The Other Stages of Decomposition: Fresh, Bloat, Active Decay, Advanced Decay and Dry Remains.

1. Fresh
“Fresh” is used to describe the time between death and the first signs of bloat. This stage includes Pallor Mortis, Algor Mortis, Rigor Mortis and Livor Mortis. Although no obvious changes can be observed on a “fresh” corpse in appearance or smell, bacteria has already begun digesting the body internally. Within a few minutes of death or the exposure of a corpse which was in a protective environment, Calliphoridae, commonly known as “blow flies”, sarcopha gidae (flesh flies), muscidae (species of fly) and ants begin to arrive. In 1-3 hours these insects will begin laying eggs inside the natural orifices of the corpse (usually the head and anus) and in any wounds present.

2. Bloat
Bloat begins with the inflation of the abdomen due to a build up of bacterial gasses. Purge fluids may also begin to exit the nose and mouth. At this time, change in the corpse’s flesh tone will become evident as well as marbling. The corpse will begin to let off a distinct odor during bloat as it begins to Putrefy. Blow flies, flesh flies and muscids continue to arrive and lay their larvae in the corpse’s orifices and wounds. During bloat, Piophilidae (cheese flies), Fanniidae flies, Staphylinidae (rove beetles), Silphidae (carrion beetles), Coleoptera and Cleridae beetles arrive.

3. Active Decay
Active decay is apparent when the corpse begins to “deflate” with help from Dipteran fly larvae that puncture the skin, releasing bacterial gasses. The corpse will begin to take on a wet appearance due to the liquefaction of tissue as strong odors persist. During active decay, flesh on the head and anus will be removed by insects which will then begin to eat away at the chest and abdominal cavities. The Calliphoridae fly larvae is generally the most abundant species during this process and Sepsidue (lesser dung fly) arrive.

4. Advanced Decay
At the onset of Advanced Decay, also known as “Post-Decay“, most flesh has been removed from the corpse, though some may remain in the abdominal cavity. Most odor begins to dissipate, as well and larvae either leave, or grow into adults. No new larvae will be produced in a corpse in Advanced Decay, and far more adult insects are present. Dermestidae (skin beetles) will begin to arrive.

5. Dry Decay
Dry Decay breaks down into Separate Remains and Dry Remains; However, the stages are so similar they are next to impossible to differentiate. Due to this, both are lumped together as Dry Decay. At this time, little to no odor exists and most insects which were previously feeding on the corpse have left. During Dry Decay centipedes, millipedes, isopedes, snails and cockroaches may arrive.

Decay can be delayed by many factors discussed during Decomposition Week [links available at end of article]. Insects involved in the decomposition process may also be subject to factors which aid or hinder their consumption of a corpse. For instance, insects would be delayed when consuming the body of a victim of arsenic poisoning. Unsurprisingly, traces of cocaine left in a corpse cause insects to work very rapidly. Of course, a body may only decompose in this way when on a Body Farm or similar environment where it is exposed to open air and somewhat protected from large scavenging animals.

DECOMPOSITION WEEK EXTENDED (slightly): Come back WEDNESDAY April 15th to learn about Adipocere/Saponify and other forms of natural preservation. In an effort to include more information without creating an overload of information we have chosen to split today’s scheduled article into two separate pieces. Apologies to anyone who was looking forward to learning about spontaneous mummification today!

Read about the Seven Stages of Decomposition: Pallor Mortis, Algor Mortis, Rigor Mortis, Livor Mortis, Putrefaction, Biotic Decomposition and Skeletonization

Follow us on Twitter @PostMortem_post

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like Everybody Poops: The Post-Mortem Edition, Demystifying the Process of Dying and Burying the Dead is Killing the Planet

Demystifying the Process of Dying

As an aging body approaches death and begins slowly shutting down, many changes occur which often frighten those experiencing and witnessing the final days of a human life for the first time. We tend to fear things we don’t understand and because death is considered a “taboo” subject, most people don’t share what they observed after witnessing their loved one pass on. Generally, a person’s first “lesson” in death isn’t received until they are at the side of a spouse or parent who is dying, or until they are dying themselves and do not know what to expect from their final hours. In a person’s last few days, circulation begins to decrease throughout the body as blood flow is reserved for the most vital organs. Circulation having decreased, the dying person may feel increasingly cool to the touch on their hands, arms, feet and eventually legs. The brain, at this point, is no longer considered a “vital organ” and will receive less blood flow, which may lead to mental changes such as confusion and hallucinations. These hallucinations however, may be less of a “mental shift” due to lack of blood flow and more of a spiritual experience as the soul detaches from this Earth. Often times, as people reach their final days they begin having “visions”, claiming to have been visited by or spoken with deceased loved ones. Usually the “visions” are very real for the person experiencing them and comforting in the process of crossing over. Irregular breathing patterns may also be observed in a dying person. Shallow breathing is common, as is no breathing at all for periods of time usually lasting 5-30 seconds, but can last up to one minute. Due to the kidneys and other organs, which have been deemed “not vital”, operating at minimum capacity, someone reaching death may produce less urine than expected that is darker than normal. The “death rattle” can be a particularly disturbing end of life event for most family members and friends who witness a loved one pass. Death rattles can begin 2-3 days prior to death and is caused by build up of fluids (saliva, bronchial secretions) in the upper chest. Dying persons who have difficulty swallowing may also have excess fluids in the back of the throat. The “death rattle” produces a bizarre gurgling sound, which is similar to a rattling, hence the name. Once the heart and lungs stop functioning and brain activity ceases causing a loss of sentient personality, a person is considered to be clinically dead. In clinical death, brain cells begin scrambling to use of the last of the body’s oxygen supply, causing irreversible damage to themselves in the process. Aproximately 4-6 minutes after clinical death occurs, biological death follows. It is after biological death that resucitation becomes impossible.
Come back tomorrow to learn some weird things our bodies continue to do after we die!
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