Wildfire and Decomposition: A Taphonomic Analysis of Thermal Alterations and Decomposition

Authors

Ashley Novak, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

William R. Belcher

Committee Members

Elizabeth Clausing, Sophia Perdikaris

Date of this Version

5-2025

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 2025

Comments

Copyright 2025, Ashley Novak. Used by permission

Abstract

Within the field of forensic anthropology, practitioners may be faced with remains that have been thermally altered by thermal alterations caused by wildfire. Within the field, very little research has been conducted examining how these thermal events impact rates of decomposition. While research has been conducted generally on the effects of thermal alteration on decomposition, these studies do not look through this lens and provide answers to the question of how do thermal alterations caused by wildfires affect rates of decomposition? This research examines the effects of thermal alteration caused by wildfire on the rate of decomposition. A decompositional study was conducted after a thermal event, mimicking wildfire, with a deceased Sus scrofa. The rate of decomposition was compared to another deceased pig as a control through linear regression modeling. The results were further tested for statistical significance through a two-sample T-test. The study found that the pig exposed to wildfire decomposed at a faster rate than the control pig yet, the difference was not deemed statistically significant. These results suggest that while there are differences between the rates, the differences could be deemed to be random. Further research must be conducted with larger sample sizes to determine the true impact. For those who are faced with cases that have been impacted by these events, consideration should be given to the appeared state of decomposition.

Advisor: William R. Belcher