Final answer:
Factors such as environmental conditions, like low oxygen and low pH in bogs, and depositional contexts, impact the rate at which the human body decomposes post-mortem. These conditions can significantly slow or prevent skeletonization. Studies in bioarcheology and forensic anthropology rely on these factors to understand the preservation of human remains.
Step-by-step explanation:
Several factors or mechanisms are known to slow/prevent skeletonization and impact the decomposition of human remains. One significant element is the environment in which the remains are found. For instance, bodies buried in bogs tend to be well-preserved due to the low oxygen content and organic acids present in the bogs, which create a low pH environment. This condition inhibits oxidation, thereby slowing down decomposition. Another factor that can slow the decomposition of remains is the depositional context, such as being in an oxygen-poor or anaerobic environment, like at the bottom of a still, shallow sea.
In cases where bodies display significant joint disarticulation in graves, it suggests that decomposition began before burial. This can be due to a long time elapsing between death and burial, allowing for advanced decomposition. Conversely, graves containing primary deposits show that the decomposition process took place entirely on-site after burial without any external interference.
The study of human skeletal remains, a part of bioarcheology, helps us understand the conditions and practices associated with burials and the preservation of remains. In forensic anthropology, analyzing decomposed bodies or skeletons can provide critical insights into the nature of a crime, including the timeline of death and preservation states of remains.