Steroids aid in human decomposition fluid identification in soils of temporary mass graves from World War II

Lühe, Barbara von der; Prost, Katharina; Birk, Jago Jonathan; Fiedler, Sabine

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102431

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Still, many controversies surrounding sterols were found regarding their use as biomarkers of decomposition fluids. In some studies [55], sterols, including ∆5-sterols, cholesterol, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol, were detected in soils from World War graves. After the study, the authors [55] concluded that it was part of the "natural sterol background" of that soil, excluding them as decomposition markers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some studies [55], sterols, including ∆5-sterols, cholesterol, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol, were detected in soils from World War graves. After the study, the authors [55] concluded that it was part of the "natural sterol background" of that soil, excluding them as decomposition markers. Other studies [34] indicated that β-sitostanol, an element of plant origin, can come from the intestine of animals if they have ingested plant matter in their diet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lipidomes in Cadaveric Decomposition and Determination of the Postmortem Interval: A Systematic Review

Caballero-Moreno,

Luna,

Legaz

2024

IJMS

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Lipids are a large group of natural compounds, together with proteins and carbohydrates, and are essential for various processes in the body. After death, the organism’s tissues undergo a series of reactions that generate changes in some molecules, including lipids. This means that determining the lipid change profile can be beneficial in estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). These changes can also help determine burial sites and advance the localization of graves. The aim was to explore and analyze the decomposition process of corpses, focusing on the transformation of lipids, especially triglycerides (TGs) and fatty acids (FAs), and the possible application of these compounds as markers to estimate PMI and detect burial sites. A systematic review of 24 scientific articles from the last 23 years (2000–2023) was conducted. The results show that membrane glycerophospholipids (such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol, among others) are the most studied, and the most promising results are obtained, with decreasing patterns as PMI varies. Fatty acids (FAs) are also identified as potential biomarkers owing to the variations in their postmortem concentration. An increase in saturated fatty acids (SFAs), such as stearic acid and palmitic acid, and a decrease in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, were observed. The importance of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in decomposition is also observed. Finally, as for the burial sites, the presence of fatty acids and some sterols in burial areas of animal and human remains can be verified. In conclusion, glycerophospholipids and fatty acids are good markers for estimating PMI. It has been observed that there are still no equations for estimating the PMI that can be applied to forensic practice, as intrinsic and extrinsic factors are seen to play a vital role in the decomposition process. As for determining burial sites, the importance of soil and textile samples has been demonstrated, showing a direct relationship between saturated fatty acids, hydroxy fatty acids, and some sterols with decomposing remains.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lipidomes in Cadaveric Decomposition and Determination of the Postmortem Interval: A Systematic Review

Caballero-Moreno,

Luna,

Legaz

2024

IJMS

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“…Another study used steroids and bile acids for identification of temporary mass graves of concentration camp prisoners at the end of World War II (Lühe et al, 2020). Findings revealed elevated faecal steroid contents and thus corroborate the former input of human decomposition products as well as faecal and tissue constituents of buried bodies (Lühe et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…High nutrient contents induced by the deposition of human and animal faeces clearly demonstrated the anthropogenic origin of terra preta de Índio (Birk et al, 2011;Birk et al, 2012;Glaser and Birk, 2012). Another study used steroids and bile acids for identification of temporary mass graves of concentration camp prisoners at the end of World War II (Lühe et al, 2020). Findings revealed elevated faecal steroid contents and thus corroborate the former input of human decomposition products as well as faecal and tissue constituents of buried bodies (Lühe et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Human and livestock faecal biomarkers at the prehistorical encampment site of Ullafelsen in the Fotsch Valley, Stubai Alps, Austria – potential and limitations

Lerch

Bromm

Geitner

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Abstract. The Ullafelsen at 1869 m a.s.l. in the Tyrolean Stubai Alps next to Innsbruck is an important (geo-)archaeological reference site for the Mesolithic period. Buried fireplaces on the Ullafelsen plateau were dated at 10.9–9.5 cal. kyrs BP and demonstrate together with thousands of flint stone artifacts the presence of hunter-gatherers during the Early Holocene. Most recently, we demonstrated the great potential of n-alkane and black carbon biomarkers for contributing to a better understanding of pedogenesis and landscape evolution. In order to study the importance of human and/or animals for occupation of this relevant geoarchaeological site, we carried out steroid and bile acid analyses on two modern faeces samples from cattle and sheep and on 37 soil samples from seven soil profiles at the Ullafelsen. The modern animal faeces show a dominance of 5β-stigmastanol and deoxycholic acid for ruminants (cattle and sheep), which is in agreement with literature data. The OAh horizons, which have accumulated and developed since the Mesolithic, revealed high contents of steroids and bile acids; the E (LL) horizon coinciding with the Mesolithic living floor is characterized by medium contents of steroids and bile acids. By contrast, the subsoil horizons Bh, Bs and BvCv contain low contents of faecal biomarkers indicating that leaching of steroids and bile acids into the podsolic subsoils is not an important factor. Deoxycholic acid is the most abundant bile acid in all soil samples and gives evidence for strong faeces input of ruminants. The steroid and bile acid patterns and ratios indicate a negligible input of human faeces on the Ullafelsen. β-Sitosterol as plant-derived steroid has also a strong influence on the faecal biomarker pattern in our soils. Root input into the subsoils is likely reflected by β-sitosterol contents. In conclusion, our results reflect a strong faecal input by livestock, rather than by humans as found for other Anthrosols such as Amazonian Dark Earths. Further studies need to focus on the question of the exact timing of faeces deposition.

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Human and livestock faecal biomarkers at the prehistorical encampment site of Ullafelsen in the Fotsch Valley, Stubai Alps, Austria – potential and limitations

et al. 2022

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Abstract. The Ullafelsen at 1869 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in the Tyrolean Stubai Alps next to Innsbruck is an important (geo)archeological reference site for the Mesolithic period. Buried fireplaces on the Ullafelsen plateau were dated at 10.9 to 9.5 ka cal BP and demonstrate together with thousands of flint stone artifacts the presence of hunter-gatherers during the Early Holocene. Grazing livestock has been a predominant anthropozoological impact in the Fotsch Valley presumably since the Bronze Age (4.2–2.8 ka). In order to study the human and/or livestock faeces input on the Ullafelsen, we carried out steroid analyses on 2 modern ruminant faeces samples from cattle and sheep, 37 soil samples from seven archeological soil profiles, and 9 soil samples from five non-archeological soil profiles from the Fotsch Valley used as reference sites. The dominance of 5β-stigmastanol and deoxycholic acid in modern cattle and sheep faeces can be used as markers for the input of ruminant faeces in soils. The OAh horizons, which have accumulated and developed since the Mesolithic, revealed high contents of steroids (sterols, stanols, stanones and bile acids); the eluvial light layer (E (LL)) horizon coinciding with the Mesolithic living floor is characterized by medium contents of steroids. By contrast, the subsoil horizons Bh, Bs and BvCv contain low contents of faecal biomarkers, indicating that leaching of steroids into the podsolic subsoils is not an important factor. High content of 5β-stigmastanol and deoxycholic acid in all soil samples gives evidence for faeces input of ruminants. The steroid patterns and ratios indicate a negligible input of human faeces on the Ullafelsen. In conclusion, our results reflect a strong faeces input by livestock, rather than by humans as found for other Anthrosols such as Amazonian dark earths. Further studies need to focus on the question of the exact timing of faeces deposition.

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Steroids aid in human decomposition fluid identification in soils of temporary mass graves from World War II

Cited by 3 publications

References 42 publications

Lipidomes in Cadaveric Decomposition and Determination of the Postmortem Interval: A Systematic Review

Lipidomes in Cadaveric Decomposition and Determination of the Postmortem Interval: A Systematic Review

Human and livestock faecal biomarkers at the prehistorical encampment site of Ullafelsen in the Fotsch Valley, Stubai Alps, Austria – potential and limitations

Human and livestock faecal biomarkers at the prehistorical encampment site of Ullafelsen in the Fotsch Valley, Stubai Alps, Austria – potential and limitations

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