Subaerial Decomposition of Small-Sized Remains in The Netherlands: Important Findings Regarding the PMI of a Four-Year Taphonomic Study

Studying post-mortem changes based on signs of decomposition (e.g., using scoring
models) is one of the methods used in scientific studies to relate observable changes to the postmortem interval (PMI). The majority of the studies on cadaver decomposition are based on large
cadavers. There is limited literature on the decomposition pattern and rate of small cadavers, even
though it is at least as important to be able to estimate the PMI for infants and subadults. Therefore,
it is crucial to acquire knowledge of the decomposition process of child-sized remains. To fill this
knowledge gap, a season-based subaerial outdoor decomposition study was conducted with small
pig cadavers at the Forensic Anthropological Outdoor Research Facility located in Den Ham, The
Netherlands, over a period of 4 years. Den Ham is located in the eastern part of the Netherlands, close
to the German border, and has a temperate maritime climate, with a Cfb classification according to the
Köppen–Geiger system. Salient findings were acquired during the decomposition study, specifically
regarding a deviating decomposition rate during winter and the subsequent spring, reproducibility,
the effect of body weight, post-mortem movement, the effect of heavy rainfall on insect activity,
delayed bloating, the interaction of different insect species, and invertebrate activity. This article
includes a systemic review of the results obtained during this four-year decomposition study and
discusses the impact of the findings on the estimation of the PMI.