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Daily Images and Journal
Forensic scientist use the known decomposition rate of humans, plants and animals to form a baseline to determine characteristics such as the time of death and cause of death. The results of this experiment would allow anyone to determine the approximate time of death for a squirrel in a similar climate. The subject in question is a Gray Squirrel and a native to this area, rest assured that I in no way caused the death of the subject. I will take a picture of the squirrel every day until it is completely decomposed and then let the class examine the remains and try to determine the cause of death.
Our experiment began on September 7th, 2008. The day one image, was taken within hours of the squirrels death. The subject was placed in an open area that will recieve 9 hours of sunlight per day and has full exposure to weather and insects. One problem we may have is carrion eaters disposing of the body, this is a natural occurance and and one that the forensic examiner has to deal with anytime a body is in a natural environment. Hopefully, there will be remains for us to examine.
There is a research facility located in Knoxville, Tennessee called the Anthropology Research Center, better known on the University of Tennessee campus as the body farm. The body farm specializes in the study of decomposing human remains. At the present time there are more than 160 cadavers in varying stages of decay in the Center. The Research Facility was the brainchild of forensics expert Bill Bass. Dr. Bass was ask in 1981 to determine the time of death of a corpse, he missed by 112 years and realised how little was known about the decay rate of human remains and established the research facility.
The Subject
