Question

Because rigor mortis typically begins a few hours after death, reaches maximum rigidity some 2-7 hours after death, and subsides about 1-6 days later or when decomposition begins?

Answer 1

Rigor mortis is a key indicator of the time elapsed since death and is related to forensic methods such as carbon-14 dating to determine the time of death.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phenomenon of rigor mortis, which you've described as commencing a few hours after death and reaching peak rigidity between 2-7 hours before subsiding within 1-6 days, is essential for understanding the timing of death and decomposition. This biological process can indeed influence the condition of remains found in gravesites.

Graves with significant joint disarticulation imply a longer period between death and burial, during which decomposition has begun. This aligns with forensic practices like using the carbon-14 dating method to determine the post-mortem interval by measuring the ¹⁴C: ¹²C ratio in remains.