QUANTIFICATION OF DECAY RATES AND PMI RECONSTRUCTION OF SUS SCROFIA SKIN AS HUMAN PROXY

The essence or aim of this study is to quantify the decay rates and reconstruct the post mortem intervals (PMI) of susscrofia skin using histotaphonomy techniques. This study was carried out at the Department of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (DAFARF) Of University of Cross River State (Okuku campus) in 2024. Methods like preparation of fixative, animal handling and sacrifice, sample preparation, controlled decomposition experiments and staining.Materials like pig’s skin, dissecting sets,sample bottles, fixatives like bouin fluid and alcohol, hematoxylin and eosin dye, microscope, gloves, face masks.Susscrofia skin samples was obtained after animal handling and sacrifice then taken to the laboratory where monitoring was done on the samples to check for changes, collection of samples and fixation was done for 5 days where skin sample was collected and fixed in a sample bottle containing bouin’s fluid for 6 hours and replaced with 75% alcohol. Lastly the samples were stained, photo micrographs documented and observations taken showing the histological changes and view of the layers of the pig’s skin from day 1 morning to day 5 evening.