Table 1. The course of decomposition in open air burial and stone cist grave


Week Calf /days since burial (+4 days since death) Pig /days since burial (+2 days since death)
Week 1
Fresh/ 5 days. Photo 1.
Temp 8ºC,
Beginning of putrefaction, bloating / 6 days. Photo 10.
Temp in the cist 18ºC, outside 31ºC Hum in the cist 30%
Week 2
Beginning of putrefaction/ 12 days. Photo 2.
Temp 12.4ºC Hum 52%

Week 3
Putrefaction, bloating/ 22 days. Photo 3.


Decomposition, larvae/ 18 days. Photo 11.
Temp in the cist 20.8ºC, outside 34.6ºC Hum in the cist 28%, outside 28%
Week 4
Decomposition, bloating/ 32 days. Photo 4.
Temp 16.8ºC, Hum 44%
Decomposition, sunken carcass, black residue/ 28 days. Photo 12.
Temp in the cist 21.1ºC, outside 34.8ºC Hum in the cist 40%, outside 37%
Week 5


Black residue, beetles have left / 36 days. Photo 13.

Week 6
Decomposition, sunken carcass, larvae/ 43 days. Photo 5.
Temp 17.4ºC, Hum 69%
Same as before/ 43 days. Photo 14.

Week 7
Drying, beetles have left/ 51 days. Photo 6.
Temp 20.8ºC, Hum 33% Same as before/ 51 days.
Week 8
Drying/ 63 days. Photo 7.
Temp 30.1ºC, Hum 48%

Week 9


Drying, mould/ 70 days. Photo 15.
Temp in the cist 21.3ºC, outside 31ºC Hum in the cist 49%
Week 15
Drying, moulding, skin preserved/ 116 days. Photo 8.
Temp 20.6ºC, Hum 83%

Week 22 (5 months later)


Mould/ 146 days. Photo 16.
Temp in the cist 7.7ºC, outside 8.1ºC Hum in the cist 77%, outside 80%
6 months later
Mould and algae, disintegration of cartilage / 192 days. Photo 9.
Temp 7.5ºC, Hum 62%

Folklore 37