What are the stages of decomposition of the human body on a time scale?
As far as a specific timeline goes, this is just too variable to even begin to answer definitively. Factors like state of the body before burrial, climate, temperature, soil type, organisms, type of casket and/or vault, body composition, quality of embalming all play a role in the rate of decomposition. A properly embalmed body in a casket and vault can actually become mummified in the right conditions (or take decades-centuries to decompose), OR it can take a little as a year when done improperly and in the worst conditions. In most cases of embalmed bodies, the nearest average answer is that it takes decades to decompose to bone. Even though embalmed and sealed, the environment is still not sterile, and any microorganisms can reproduce and begin the process of decay… but this process is significantly slowed with “proper” burial methods. Essentially, the decomposition process is the same in the stages it takes, but differs enormously depending on those other factors. If you’d like t
