Final answer:
The primary purpose of tagging a deceased body and shroud is to ensure the deceased person's identity is preserved, particularly under circumstances where the body has undergone decomposition or dismemberment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The importance of tagging the deceased body and the shroud is primarily to ensure the identity of the individual. In circumstances where bodies may undergo decomposition or where body parts, such as feet, are missing due to various posthumous activities, identification becomes critical. In the historical context provided, the loss of feet could have been due to the time elapsed between death and burial, with potential reuse of footwear during crisis periods, or careful removal without evidence of violence in acts of posthumous revenge. Tagging safeguards the integrity of the identification process amidst such challenges.