Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust: The Stages of Decomposition

Embroidery demonstrating the various stages of decomposition.  Image Source Unknown.

It is a dirty job, but someone has to do it.  What specifically am I referring to?  I am referencing the position of understanding the processes of death, specifically how decomposition happens and how that can and does affect bioarchaeological and forensic anthropological interpretations of the dead.  This area of study is formally known as taphonomy, and in this blog post you will learn about the stages and processes of decomposition.

 

The first step of decomposition if the autolysis step.  This is when the body undergoes the chemical processes of breaking down the organic tissues.  This occurs shortly after death as the body stop maintaining the chemical processes to support life, and it is a naturally occurring aspect of death.  This process occurs on a regular timeline if and when no external factors, such as extreme heat or cold, exist.  If and when they do they will either speed up or slow down (respectively) the autolysis process and overall decomposition of the organic remains (i.e. the body)

 

The next step is known as the putrefaction step.  This is where, through the breakdown of the body tissues by bacteria, that gases naturally form.  This causes the body, particularly the gut region, to expand, leading to a bloated body.  This process can also be expedited by heat or hindered by cold.  This step often takes place within hours of death.

 

Eventually the body will contract as these gases dissipate and/or are released from the body, often coinciding with the point where the bodies fluids (e.g. urine and feces) are also naturally expelled.  This lack of fluid and gases causes the body’s soft tissues, specifically skin, to recede, creating the illusion of hair and nail growth as the skin shrink and shrivels from its lively form.  It was actually this process that reinforced the notions of the deceased and vampirism.  This stage is also critical because in the appropriate conditions the body can become mummified or adipocere can occur.  Adipocere is when a small amount of moisture comes in contact with the body, creating a wax like texture to the body that is preserved as such.   (Note, if you are curious but have a weak stomach do not look it up.)

 

The final stage of decomposition is the skeletonization stage.  This is where all of the soft tissues have decayed away, be it from natural wasting processes, being consumed by scavengers, insects, or bacteria, or otherwise removed through another unnatural process.  The hard tissues of the skeleton do not decompose as easily and therefore will remain for far longer than the soft tissues.  The bones, however, do not exist indefinitely and will eventually decay away as well.  This process is dependent on climatic conditions, with wet and hot climates expediting the decomposition whereas cold and dry climates hamper it.  Freezing and warming conditions will also eventually aid in decomposition, particularly if the bones get wet.  The freezing and thawing process will break apart the bones, making it easier for them to decompose.

 

Ultimately, you may be wondering why the study of taphonomy is necessary, and the answer is simple: we must know these processes to understand how to interpret the remains of the deceased.  This information can be useful in understanding how long an individual has been dead, how they may have met their end, as well as what may have happened to them after death.  Without this understanding one might misinterpret natural decomposition processes as something despicable or overlook evidence of a crime or postmortem (after death) alteration.  This is important when investigating criminal cases or archaeological contexts as both inquiries involve a pursuit of accurate interpretation of the evidence to gain more knowledge.

Works Cited

Dupras, T. L., Schultz, J. J., Wheeler, S. M., & Williams, L. J. (2011). Forensic Recovery of Human Remains: Archaeological Approaches, Second Edition. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

 

Love Scorned: The Story of the Dearg Due

According to an Irish myth there was once a young, beautiful woman from Waterford.  She fell in love with and planned to marry a young farmer, but her greedy father brokered an arranged marriage for her.  She was forced to marry a wealthy, nasty local leader, who paid handsomely to marry her.  On her wedding day she wore a gown of red and gold, but her marriage did not match the happiness of the day as her marriage was full of cruelty.  She was locked away from her friends and family, and each day she prayed that someone would come to rescue her.  No one did.  As a result she refused to eat or drink, eventually wasting away.  Her husband married before she was buried, and her family never visited her grave.  Years later she resurrected herself so she could seek revenge on those who wronged her, thereby becoming the Dearg Due.

 

The Dearg Due story is one of the oldest myths of Ireland, and it is said to still strike fear in many Irish today.  Her burial is marked as the Strongbow Tree, which is not a tree but a pile of rocks meant to mark her grave.  It is said that the Dearg Due returns every year on the date of her death to sate her deep appetite for blood, so in the days leading up to her death date locals pile more rocks onto her grave in order to keep her at bay. 

 

This tale, however, parallels various other tales of the region in that its purpose was to explain the unexplainable.  Whenever an individual, particularly a man, went missing or unexpectedly and violently ill the misfortune was blamed on the Dearg Due.  It was believed that her appetite for blood and vengeance went beyond that of her ex-husband and her father (who in certain versions of the myth also met an unfortunate fate), and that any unsuspecting individual, particularly men, could fall victim to the Dearg Due. 

 

It is also important to note that the Dearg Due is one of the oldest vampire myths in the region, dating back to the Celtic era.  It may have served as inspiration for various other (and more modern) vampire tales, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula.  Today, it aids in tourism of the region as tourists are encouraged to place a stone on the Dearg Due’s grave to do their part to protect themselves from her wrath. 

 

Bibliography

Hrodvitnir, Yamuna. "Dearg-Due: The Irish Vampire." Medium 12 February 2020. Electronic.

Lloyd, Ellen. "Dearg-Due Frightening Female Demon And Tyrannical Abhartach Of Irish Folklore." 5 January 2017. Ancient Pages. Electronic. 5 August 2020.

No Author. "Dearg Due." n.d. Emerald Isle. Electronic. 6 August 2020.

O'Regan, Ann. "The Dearg Due - How a revengeful young lover became Ireland's most famous female vampire." 2 October 2018. Irish Central. Electronic. 6 August 2020.

A Beauty to Die For: The Rusalka

Figure 1: Rusalka (By Ivan Bilibine) [Public Domain Image]

Around the world there exist cultural tales about wicked women who entice men and women to their misfortunes and death.  The Greeks had Medusa, the Egyptians and the Sphinx, Americans have Bloody Mary, and there are countless more that I am sure you, the reader, can come up with (and will most likely be explored in blog posts to come).  Today’s blog post will discuss one such female entity, which comes from Slavic culture.  It is known as the Rusalka (Figure 1), and this blog post will discuss what it originally represented and what it signifies today, as well as the cultural traditions surrounding this mythical creature.

 

The Rusalka goes back to early Slavic mythology and pagan religion.  It was originally a benevolent water spirit that represented fertility since its primary job was the provide the life-giving rains to the forests and crops.  It took the form of an irresistibly beautiful woman who was skinny with long light-colored hair but eyes devoid of pupils.  The Rusalka could walk on land and enjoyed coming out at night to dance or climb trees.  They resided in all land-based bodies of water, including swamps, marshes, rivers, ponds, and lakes.

 

In the 19^th century, however, this positive depiction of the Rusalka changed to something more nefarious and wicked.  The Rusalka remained a female, but it embodied the spirit of a woman who had been scorned by a male lover or family member.  She lost her life through drowning, be it by her own hand or that of a man.  The Rusalka continued to reside in bodies of water, but her longevity in the after life expired upon completion of her goals, be it seeking vengeance for her death or fulfilling the roles granted to her in her undead after life.  Her primary responsibility was to kill unsuspecting men and to tickle women who got too close to the waterways at night. 

 

It is unclear what specifically caused the change in the representation of the Rusalka, but this change brought about cultural traditions to match the new depictions.  Until the 1930s (when Communism led to the prohibition of various religious traditions) the Slavic people would observe a week long celebration of the Rusalka during the first week of June.  During this time people were forbidden to swim (or else they would be taken by the Rusalka at any time, not just at night).  They were discouraged from walking near water at night because it was believed the Rusalki would dance on the shores, and anyone who witnessed their dancing was forced to dance with them until they died.  To appease these vengeful entities Slavs would present the Rusalki with ceremonial burials on the shores or through water burials.

 

Today the Rusalka is often confused with being a mermaid, but the distinction between a half fish/half human creature and the Rusalka remains.  The Rusalka was never portrayed as representing anything but a human woman.  While her story seems similar to the Greek sirens (mythical female sea creatures that would lure men to their deaths through song) that is where the similarities with mermaids end.  She is more similar to a vengeful spirit, such as a poltergeist or Dybbuk.  Ultimately, the Rusalka demonstrates the changing values of Slavic people, much like the Babba Yaga discussed previously, providing us a richer understanding of cultural change.

 

Bibliography

Ivan R. "Rusalka – the Deadly Mermaid Beauty in Slavic lakes and legends." n.d. Slavorum. Electronic. 6 August 2020.

Sullivan, Kerry. "Rusalka: The Mythical Slavic Mermaid." 30 September 2016. Ancient Origins. Electronic. 6 August 2020.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Rusalka: Slavic Spirit (Encyclopaedia Britannica). n.d. Electronic. 6 August 2020.

 

Santa Muerte, Folk Saint of Death

Figure 1: Santa Muerte (Source: Pinterest)

Today’s blog post will discuss a figure that is cloaked in mysticism as well as inaccurate and sensationalized ideas: Santa Muerte.  Also referred to as the Bony Lady, the White Girl, or Our Lady of Holy Death Santa Muerte is a Mexican folk saint who is represented as a skeleton dressed in long robes and who carries a scythe and globe in each of her hands (Figure 1).  This blog post will discuss the origins of Santa Muerte, what she represents, and why people are drawn to her.

 

The specific origins of Santa Muerte are imprecisely known, but many scholars believe she is a syncretic mix of religious beliefs held by the ancient Aztecs and Spanish Conquistadors, the latter of whom were Catholics.  It is believed that the Aztec goddess of death, Mictecacihuatl, was retained exclusively by indigenous Mexicans while various other Aztec gods and goddesses were coopted by Spanish Catholics and later incorporated formally into Catholicism as recognized saints.  From this the worship of Santa Muerte began and continued largely in secret.  Despite her name, the Catholic Church has not and continues to not recognize Santa Muerte as a legitimate saint, and they actually rebuke any and all of her devotees, who often worship her in similar fashions to other Catholic saints.

 

Santa Muerte has gained quite a following, with 10 to 12 million devotees across North and Central America and many more across the globe[CB1] .  This large following is attributed to the notion that she accepts all individuals who worship her.  She is known as the saint who will not turn anyone away, making her popular among drug dealers, cartel members, the poor, the marginalized, unwanted members of society (e.g. sex workers, immigrants, and LGBTQI), and anyone who seeks her protection, which includes law enforcement officers, prison personnel, lawyers, social workers, and more. 

 

Santa Muerte is known to grant all of the prayers of her devotees.  Some say that these prayers are only granted when an appropriate offering is made, while others claim that no such offerings are required.  The catch of this universal wish granting is that these wishes are granted regardless of the consequences.  For example, if one were to wish for a specific partner/significant other they will get said individual as their partner/significant other, but they may regret that decision if the partner/significant other is a serial cheater or abuser.  Santa Muerte is known for granting all of these wishes and prayers because ultimately the cost is universal among all people, regardless of if they believe in her or not.  Upon death she collects the souls of those who asked and were granted favors by her. 

 

Given Santa Muerte’s powers in granting any prayer, including those that other religions do not deem worthy or moral, and her acceptance of all individuals it is no surprise that Santa Muerte is gaining in popularity.  She offers something for every individual, fostering a wide appeal among all segments of society.  This is why the number of her devotees are increasing annually, despite the admonishment by the Catholic Church and the inaccurate representations of her through popular media.  She offers help and salvation to all.  One need only ask.

 

References

Latina Magazine, Contributor. "7 Things to Know About La Santa Muerte, Mexico’s Folk Saint of Death." Huffington Post 26 October 2016. Electronic.

McNelll, Brian. "Q&A: Why folk saint Santa Muerte should be considered the ‘matron saint of the Mexican drug war’." 18 February 2020. VCU News. Electronic. 5 August 2020.

NBC News. "Growing Devotion To Santa Muerte In U.S. And Abroad." NBC News 29 December 2014. Electronic.

Prower, Tomas. La Santa Muerte: Unearthing the Magic and Mysticism of Death. Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd., 2018. Document.

Tucker, Duncan. "Santa Muerte: The rise of Mexico’s death 'saint'." BBC 1 November 2017. Electronic.

 

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 [CB1]Move to third paragaraph and replace with description of her