Final answer:
Taphonomic inspection includes the examination of fossilized remains, analysis of decay and decomposition processes, and study of burial environments. Therefore, the comprehensive answer is all these aspects are part of taphonomic inspection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Taphonomic inspection is a field of study within paleontology that involves the analysis of processes affecting the preservation of biological organisms after death. It includes examination of fossilized remains, analysis of decay and decomposition processes, and the study of burial environments. Taphonomy explores how organisms, including their hard and soft parts, become fossils, the alterations that these remains undergo before discovery, such as decay, burial, and mineral replacement, and the environmental conditions that affect their preservation, such as volcanic ash or limestone deposits. It is also crucial in forensic anthropology, where taphonomic data can help decipher the circumstances surrounding a person's death. Thus, the correct answer to what taphonomic inspection comprises of is 4) All of the above.