Decomposition Study Using Pigs in Southeastern Nebraska During the Fall and Winter Seasons

Authors

• Ryan Bodine, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

William Belcher

Committee Members

LuAnn Wandsnider, Kelly Kamnikar

Date of this Version

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts

Major: Anthropology

Under the supervision of Professor William R. Belcher

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2026

Comments

Copyright 2026, Ryan Bodine. Used by permission

Abstract

When an individual is found deceased, one of the tools used in the identification process is estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). This estimate is used to determine how long an individual has been deceased once their remains are found. To estimate an accurate PMI, knowing how decomposition is affected by external factors is key. The transition period from fall to winter in southeastern Nebraska consists of fluctuating temperatures as the seasons transfer from fall to winter. This thesis investigates how decomposition is affected during this transition period while also looking at two different environments that are common in Nebraska, prairies and forested meadows. Using Sus scrofa (pig) as human proxies, two pigs were humanely euthanized and placed in two different environments at Reller Prairie Field Station located south of Martell, Nebraska. They were placed on October 30th, 2025, and the final day for data collection occurred on March 3, 2026. During the data collection period, the pigs were photographed, notes were taken on weather conditions, insect activity, scavenger activity, changes of the skin, total body score (TBS), and any other changes that occurred since last observation. The findings of this study suggest that the colder temperatures that are common during these seasons aided in the slow decomposition rate that was observed in this research. Only two of the four decomposition phases were seen with very minimal changes during the periods of colder temperatures. The purpose of this study contributes to forensic anthropology by expanding decomposition studies by looking at taphonomic processes present in southeastern Nebraska