Forensic Taphonomy in the Marine Environment
Every year dozens of British people die whilst working at sea (the UK’s most dangerous profession), resulting in bodies that are ‘lost at sea’. Recent high-profile disasters such as the sinking of the Costa Concordia or the lost airlines (Air France 447, Air Asia 8501) also highlight the potential for catastrophic loss of life in the ocean. What happens to these bodies that end up in the sea? This is a vital question for authorities and for the families of the deceased. Unfortunately, at the moment we don’t really know the answer.
This is a relatively new research area for me. I am currently working on some preliminary results from experimental work and I'm hoping to do more. For now, please see my book chapter in the Manual of Forensic Taphonomy on what happens to bones in the marine environment.
Also, see here for some pioneering work carried out Dr. Gail Anderson and colleagues on this topic.