Editing Taphonomy (section)

=== Forensic science ===
Forensic taphonomy is a relatively new field that has increased in popularity in the past 15 years. It is a subfield of [[forensic anthropology]] focusing specifically on how taphonomic forces have altered criminal evidence.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Passalacqua|first=Nicholas|title=Introduction to Part VI: Forensic taphonomy|url=https://www.academia.edu/1566948|language=en}}</ref>

There are two different branches of forensic taphonomy: [http://www.itsgov.com/forensic-taphonomy.html biotaphonomy] and [http://www.itsgov.com/forensic-taphonomy.html geotaphonomy]. Biotaphonomy looks at how the decomposition and/or destruction of the organism has happened. The main factors that affect this branch are categorized into three groups: environmental factors; external variables, individual factors; factors from the organism itself (i.e. body size, age, etc.), and cultural factors; factors specific to any cultural behaviors that would affect the decomposition (burial practices). Geotaphonomy studies how the burial practices and the burial itself affects the surrounding environment. This includes soil disturbances and tool marks from digging the grave, disruption of plant growth and [[soil pH]] from the decomposing body, and the alteration of the land and water drainage from introducing an unnatural mass to the area.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=Forensic taphonomy|date=2011-12-08|work=Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) and forensics information|language=en-US}}{{verify source|date=April 2021}}</ref>

This field is extremely important because it helps scientists use the taphonomic profile to help determine what happened to the remains at the time of death ([https://naturalhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/media/file/wibperimortemfinal.pdf perimortem]) and after death ([https://naturalhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/media/file/wibperimortemfinal.pdf postmortem]). This can make a huge difference when considering what can be used as evidence in a criminal investigation.<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1201/b15424-1 |chapter=Front Matter |title=Manual of Forensic Taphonomy |year=2013 |pages=i-xiv |isbn=978-1-4398-7841-5 |last1=Pokines |first1=James |last2=Symes |first2=Steven A. |doi-broken-date=2024-11-12 }}</ref>