postmortem trauma

the two types of dismemberment

• localized dismemberment

• generalized dismemberment

localized dismemberment

• removing identifying parts

• disarticulation below the natural joint

generalized dismemberment

• disarticulating a body at the natural joints

• takes a lot of skill

kerf

the negative space left from the teeth of a saw

smooth kerf floors

produced by saw teeth that are finer and closer together

rough kerf floors

produced by saw teeth that are further apart and larger

smooth kerf walls

produced by saw teeth that are set close together

rough kerf walls

produced by saw teeth that are set far from each other

a breakaway spur

the bottom cut breaking away under the weight of the object

the three types of saw marks on bone

• superficial false start scratches

• false start kerf

  • sectioned bone cut

the 6 steps in analysing saw marks

1. basic description

2. direction of saw cut

3. general tooth size and number

4. blade width

5. blade shape

6. source of energy

how to determine the width of the blade

(width of kerf)/1.5

three ways to determine dismemberment is done by humans

• humans don’t remove scapulae and clavicles, only the humerus

• humans don’t remove the femur from the acetabulum, they cut through the femur

• humans don’t separate parts of the thorax, they keep it intact