Final answer:
The first sign of decomposition in a decedent is the disarticulation of joints, indicating a time lapse between death and burial during which decomposition began. Careful arrangement of the bodies for burial can be observed even when decomposition has significantly progressed, signifying adherence to specific burial protocols.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first sign of decomposition on a decedent is typically the loosening of joints leading to disarticulation. This indicator of decomposition suggests that the body began to decompose prior to burial, possibly at a different location from where they were eventually interred. Particularly in archaeological or forensic contexts, graves with bodies displaying significant joint disarticulation indicate a period of time elapsed between death and burial, allowing decomposition to begin. Regardless of the state of decomposition, bodies were often disposed of with special care, following certain burial practices, such as the Jewish ritual of head-west and feet-east orientation.
Gross visual changes, like coloration of the skin, are typically the first perceivable sign. However, within a grave site, the presence or absence of anatomical articulation can provide valuable information regarding the timing and the nature of the burial practices. For example, primary deposits of bodies with intact anatomical articulation imply that the decomposition process occurred entirely on-site post-burial, while secondary deposits reveal evidence of prior decomposition due to disarticulated joints.
Moreover, the presence of trauma or cut marks can indicate perimortem injuries and also provide insight into events leading up to death, even before the onset of decomposition. Burial treatment and orientation are also factors considered by researchers in understanding the state of decomposition during the time of burial.