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International Journal of Legal Medicine
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Open Access 26-04-2024 | Combustion | Original Article

Technical note: Temperature estimation accuracy based on colourimetry of embalmed human and fresh non-human burned bone

Authors: Tristan Krap, Afke Leenstra, Roelof-Jan Oostra, Wilma Duijst

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 5/2024

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Abstract

Estimation of the exposure temperature of skeletal remains can be done by means of colourimetry and a previously published decision model for the colourimetric data, resulting in clusters that represent a range of exposure temperature. The method was based on thermally altered freshly burned human skeletal remains. However, in practice the origin or pre-burning condition of (possibly fragmentary) burned remains can be unknown. Further, in order to use the colourimetric analysis, and accompanying decision model, it is important to have a reference or test set. Fresh human material is not available for this purpose in all countries. Hence, the classification accuracy of the decision model was tested for, in some countries more readily available substitutes for fresh bone; embalmed human bone and non-human bone. The model yielded high accuracies for these sample materials, making it possible to create a reference or test set from fresh non-human and embalmed human bone as substitute for human, and also to use the decision model for these deviating samples in practice.
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Footnotes
1
In rare cases in practice, bone fragments salvaged from fire debris can originate from anatomical specimens that were kept as props, which can be chemically treated, and are not necessarily of human origin. Uncertainty on the origin of skeletal remains in such contexts leads to the demand for knowledge on the validity of the applied method.
 
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Metadata
Title
Technical note: Temperature estimation accuracy based on colourimetry of embalmed human and fresh non-human burned bone
Authors
Tristan Krap
Afke Leenstra
Roelof-Jan Oostra
Wilma Duijst
Publication date
26-04-2024
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 5/2024
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03239-7

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