Mushrooms and taphonomy: the fungi that mark woodland graves

Tibbett, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0143-2190 and Carter, D. O. (2003) Mushrooms and taphonomy: the fungi that mark woodland graves. Mycologist, 17 (1). pp. 20-24. ISSN 0269-915X doi: 10.1017/S0269915X03001150

Abstract/Summary

Two closely related chemoecological groups of fungi, the ammonia fungi and the postputrefaction fungi, have been associated with the decomposition by-products of cadavers. Sporocarps have been observed in disparate woodlands across the world and often mark sites of graves. These groups of fungi provide visible markers of the sites of cadaver decomposition and follow repeated patterns of successional change as apparent decomposition proceeds. We suggest these phenomena may become a useful tool for crime scene investigation, forensic archaeology and forensic taphonomy.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/45423
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Sustainable Land Management > Centre for Agri-environmental Research (CAER)
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
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