Fig 1.
Average monthly temperatures, average monthly relative humidity and total rainfall readings during the study period.
The gap in relative humidity is due to instrument failure.
Table 1.
Donor and pig data.
Fig 2.
(a) After 1057 days of deposition, a rib and femoral sample were taken from donor 1619 which was placed in a supine, extended position. The red star and triangle indicate the sample locations; (b) Rib histological section showing the onset of degradation; (c) SEM image of the same rib section reveals the presence of several microcracks; (d) Histological section of the femur shows well preserved bone with clear osteocyte lacunae. The orange discolouration indicates former blood supply; (e) SEM image of the same femoral section with only a few microcracks present.
Fig 3.
(a) Donor 1721 was frozen before being placed at AFTER. Rib and femoral samples were collected after 463 days of deposition. The clothed subject was deposited in a supine position with flexed lower limbs. The red star and triangle indicate the sample locations; (b) Rib histological section showing the onset of degradation; (c) SEM image of the same rib section reveals a limited number of microcracks; (d) Histological section of the femur showing well preserved bone; (e) SEM image of the same femoral section with a few microcracks.
Fig 4.
Femur samples were taken from the anterior side of the bone diaphysis, approximately 4–5 cm from the lesser trochanter.
The endosteal and periosteal surfaces were scraped for analysis using FTIR spectroscopy.
Fig 5.
The 3rd right rib was sampled 2–3 cm from the sternal end.
Table 2.
Median OHI (left) and CB (right) scores of thin sections of human femora and ribs. Each specimen was assessed by two observers, with every observer scoring three times.
Table 3.
Median OHI (left) and CB (right) scores of thin sections of pig femora and ribs. Each specimen was assessed by two observers, with every observer scoring three times.
Fig 6.
Rib thin section of donor 1618 with periosteum still present (arrow).
Fig 7.
Z-stack of rib thin section of donor 1618 with the presence of moss displayed as green patches.
Fig 8.
Rib thin sections of donors 1717 (a) and 1705 (b) showing the onset of degradation.
Fig 9.
(a) Pig 3902 was deposited on the left side for 390 days. The red star and triangle indicate the sample locations; Both (b) femur and (d) rib thin sections displayed degradation; The rib section displayed more degradation on (f) the side that was in contact with soil, than on (e) the uppermost side; SEM images show (c, g) limited microfissures and (c) the onset of demineralisation in the femoral sample (circled).
Fig 10.
(a) Crystallinity index; (b) carbonate to phosphate ratio; and (c) organic content at the endosteal (inner) and periosteal (outer) surface of the femur samples from both human and pig subjects.