From Prairie to Practice: Forensic Taphonomy, Ethics, and Regional Ecology in Southeastern Nebraska

Authors

• Jessica F. L. Gammage, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

William R. Belcher

Committee Members

Kelly Kamnikar, LuAnn Wandsnider

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, Jessica F. L. Gammage. Used by permission

Abstract

Forensic taphonomy examines the postmortem processes that affect human remains within specific environmental contexts and plays a critical role in medicolegal death investigation. Despite significant advances in decomposition research, experimental studies remain geographically and environmentally uneven, limiting the transferability of postmortem interval (PMI) estimation methods across regions. The Central Great Plains are underrepresented in forensic taphonomic research despite its distinct ecological and geomorphological characteristics.

This thesis evaluates southeastern Nebraska as a specific regional setting for forensic taphonomic research by integrating ecological, pedological, and geomorphological data with current forensic literature. Tallgrass prairie vegetation, loess-derived soils, seasonal moisture variability, and dynamic fluvial systems are examined as key factors influencing both surface and subsurface decomposition processes. Particular attention is given to how soil structure, drainage variability, root activity, and oxygen availability contribute to spatial and temporal variation in decomposition trajectories. These environmental factors demonstrate that decomposition patterns observed in other regions may not directly translate to Great Plains contexts without regional calibration.

In addition to environmental analysis, this research addresses the ethical and institutional considerations associated with establishing forensic taphonomic research in contemporary landscapes. Southeastern Nebraska occupies lands shaped by long histories of Indigenous stewardship, requiring careful attention to transparency, community engagement, and responsible management of human remains in research settings.

By synthesizing environmental and ethical perspectives, this thesis proposes a framework for regionally grounded forensic taphonomic research in southeastern Nebraska. This framework supports the development of locally relevant decomposition datasets, improves the reliability of forensic interpretation, and contributes to broader discussions on ethical stewardship and regional representation in forensic science.

Advisor: William R. Belcher