Radiocarbon and bomb pulse dating in the forensic context: A systematic review

Abstract

Radiocarbon analysis in bones, particularly through Bomb Pulse dating, is an essential tool in forensic investigations for estimating the postmortem interval of human remains. However, there are some limitations related to the interpretation of laboratory data, since this can differ from the Post Mortem Interval by many years, depending on the anatomical district and the bone part sampled, as well as the age of the individual and other parameters, since these elements influence bone turnover. In recent years, many studies have been conducted, but with non-standardized data and on limited samples. Therefore there is a need (experienced by the authors themselves in daily forensic practice when only bones are available) to summarize in a single work the data spread in the literature and try to standardize data, as much as possible, with limitation to forensic case only, in a review that is not only critical, but also systematic, in order to have specific and ready to use information for the interpretation of laboratory results. This work, therefore, not only aims to highlight the complexity and the need for standardized methodologies on multiple types of tissue for future research, but also to be an immediate help to refine the interpretation of the results provided by radiocorabion in order to have a Post Mortem Interval as reliable as possible.

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