1. Introduction : collection of macroscopic osseous taphonomic data and the recognition of taphonomic suites of characteristics / James T. Pokines -- 2. Microscopic destruction of bone / Miranda M.E. Jans -- 3. Human decompositions ecology and postmortem microbiology / Franklin E. Damann and David O. Carter -- 4. Bone density and bone attrition / R. Lee Lyman -- 5. Effects of burial environment on osseous remains / James T. Pokines and Joan E. Baker -- 6. Fluvial taphonomy / Thomas Evans -- 7. Marine environmental alterations to bone / Nicholas D. Higgs and James T. Pokines -- 8. Contemporary cultural alterations to bone / Josephine M. Paolello and Alexandra R. Klales -- 9. Faunal dispersal, reconcentration, and gnawing damage to bone in terrestrial environments / James T. Pokines -- 10. Deposition and dispersal of human remains as a result of criminal acts : homo sapiens sapiens as a taphonomic agent / Derk Congram -- 11. Subaerial weathering / Christine A. Junod and James T. Pokines -- 12. Taphonomic bone staining and color changes in forensic contexts / Tosha L. Dupras and John J. Schultz -- 13. Taphonomy and the timing of bone fractures in trauma analysis / Steven A. Symes, Ericka N. L'Abbe, Kyra E. Stull, Marcelle LaCroix, and James T. Pokines -- 14. Thermal alteration to bone / Steven A. Symes, Ericka N. L'Abbe, James T. Pokines, Taylor Yuzwa, Diana Messer, Amy Stromquist, and Natalie Keough -- 15. DNA survivability in skeletal remains / Krista E. Latham and Megan E. Madonna -- 16. Avian taphonomy / James T. Pokines and Stephanie E. Baker -- 17. Effects of recovery methods / James T. Pokines and Joan E. Baker.