Taphonomik

Taphonomik, or taphonomy, is the science that studies the processes that affect organic remains from death to discovery, shaping whether they are preserved as fossils or archaeological materials. The term was introduced in the mid-20th century by the Russian paleontologist Ivan Efremov to denote the laws of burial, from the Greek taphos (burial) and nomos (law). The field sits at the intersection of paleontology, archaeology, and forensic science and aims to reconstruct life histories, depositional environments, and the biases of the preserved record.

Core concepts include biostratinomy, which covers decay, disarticulation, and transport prior to burial, and diagenesis, which covers post-burial physical and chemical alteration. Together these stages determine preservation potential and the appearance of remains in the fossil or archaeological record. Taphonomic processes include decay, disintegration, fragmentation, transport by water or wind, burial, mineral replacement, and surface weathering, all of which may produce characteristic signatures.

Taphonomic analysis relies on markers such as cut marks, tooth marks, percussion marks, weathering stages, abrasion, soil staining, and microstructural changes to interpret activities at the site, the environment, and the time since death. Experimental taphonomy and observational analogies help distinguish natural from anthropogenic modifications and assess preservation biases.

Applications include reconstructing past ecosystems and depositional settings in paleontology, interpreting site formation processes in archaeology and zooarchaeology, and in forensic contexts estimating postmortem interval and scene conditions. While taphonomy provides powerful insights, interpretations must account for multiple overlapping processes and the inherent biases of preserved material.