How long would it take a body to decay and the bones to fall to the ground from a tree?












5















Death occurs in extremely high humidity and an average temperature of 23 C (~75 F), both of which continue for six weeks.



At that time, temperature begins to fall over the course of eight weeks to an average of 5 C (~40 F). At the beginning of these weeks humidity decreases sharply, though the air is still quite humid.



The next three months are cold, averaging 0 C (32 F) and with moderate levels of humidity.



This is followed by eight weeks of warming and then a hot, humid summer of two months with temperatures as high as 40 C (~105 F).



A dry season follows for six weeks and then the cycle repeats.



All this time the body is clothed (clothing composed primarily of cotton), open to the environment and can be accessed by insects and scavengers.



In this weather cycle, about how long would it take for the body to be skeletonized?



Also, how long would it take for the bones to separate from each other and fall from the tree assuming it starts securely wedged between two branches?



I don't need exact amounts, just ballpark figures would be useful.










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  • What are the clothes composed of?

    – Arkenstein XII
    1 hour ago











  • Welcome to Worldbuilding, Stephen Burgos! If you have a moment, please take the tour and visit the help center to learn more about the site. You may also find Worldbuilding Meta and The Sandbox useful. Here is a meta post on the culture and style of Worldbuilding.SE, just to help you understand our scope and methods, and how we do things here. Have fun!

    – Gryphon
    1 hour ago











  • The cothing is composed primarily of cotton.

    – Stephen
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    You can get something beyond speculation if you can find details of historical gibbiting -- the public display of the bodies of dead criminals. In many cases they were allowed to decay away completely. It took more than a few days.

    – Mark Olson
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    In that case, @StephenBurgos definitely check into gibbeting. That's where people used to be locked into hanging cages until they died and their rotted corpses fell through the bars of the cage.

    – elemtilas
    52 mins ago
















5















Death occurs in extremely high humidity and an average temperature of 23 C (~75 F), both of which continue for six weeks.



At that time, temperature begins to fall over the course of eight weeks to an average of 5 C (~40 F). At the beginning of these weeks humidity decreases sharply, though the air is still quite humid.



The next three months are cold, averaging 0 C (32 F) and with moderate levels of humidity.



This is followed by eight weeks of warming and then a hot, humid summer of two months with temperatures as high as 40 C (~105 F).



A dry season follows for six weeks and then the cycle repeats.



All this time the body is clothed (clothing composed primarily of cotton), open to the environment and can be accessed by insects and scavengers.



In this weather cycle, about how long would it take for the body to be skeletonized?



Also, how long would it take for the bones to separate from each other and fall from the tree assuming it starts securely wedged between two branches?



I don't need exact amounts, just ballpark figures would be useful.










share|improve this question









New contributor




Stephen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





















  • What are the clothes composed of?

    – Arkenstein XII
    1 hour ago











  • Welcome to Worldbuilding, Stephen Burgos! If you have a moment, please take the tour and visit the help center to learn more about the site. You may also find Worldbuilding Meta and The Sandbox useful. Here is a meta post on the culture and style of Worldbuilding.SE, just to help you understand our scope and methods, and how we do things here. Have fun!

    – Gryphon
    1 hour ago











  • The cothing is composed primarily of cotton.

    – Stephen
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    You can get something beyond speculation if you can find details of historical gibbiting -- the public display of the bodies of dead criminals. In many cases they were allowed to decay away completely. It took more than a few days.

    – Mark Olson
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    In that case, @StephenBurgos definitely check into gibbeting. That's where people used to be locked into hanging cages until they died and their rotted corpses fell through the bars of the cage.

    – elemtilas
    52 mins ago














5












5








5








Death occurs in extremely high humidity and an average temperature of 23 C (~75 F), both of which continue for six weeks.



At that time, temperature begins to fall over the course of eight weeks to an average of 5 C (~40 F). At the beginning of these weeks humidity decreases sharply, though the air is still quite humid.



The next three months are cold, averaging 0 C (32 F) and with moderate levels of humidity.



This is followed by eight weeks of warming and then a hot, humid summer of two months with temperatures as high as 40 C (~105 F).



A dry season follows for six weeks and then the cycle repeats.



All this time the body is clothed (clothing composed primarily of cotton), open to the environment and can be accessed by insects and scavengers.



In this weather cycle, about how long would it take for the body to be skeletonized?



Also, how long would it take for the bones to separate from each other and fall from the tree assuming it starts securely wedged between two branches?



I don't need exact amounts, just ballpark figures would be useful.










share|improve this question









New contributor




Stephen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












Death occurs in extremely high humidity and an average temperature of 23 C (~75 F), both of which continue for six weeks.



At that time, temperature begins to fall over the course of eight weeks to an average of 5 C (~40 F). At the beginning of these weeks humidity decreases sharply, though the air is still quite humid.



The next three months are cold, averaging 0 C (32 F) and with moderate levels of humidity.



This is followed by eight weeks of warming and then a hot, humid summer of two months with temperatures as high as 40 C (~105 F).



A dry season follows for six weeks and then the cycle repeats.



All this time the body is clothed (clothing composed primarily of cotton), open to the environment and can be accessed by insects and scavengers.



In this weather cycle, about how long would it take for the body to be skeletonized?



Also, how long would it take for the bones to separate from each other and fall from the tree assuming it starts securely wedged between two branches?



I don't need exact amounts, just ballpark figures would be useful.







science-based chemistry death skeletons bones






share|improve this question









New contributor




Stephen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




Stephen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 1 hour ago







Stephen













New contributor




Stephen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 1 hour ago









StephenStephen

265




265




New contributor




Stephen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Stephen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Stephen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.













  • What are the clothes composed of?

    – Arkenstein XII
    1 hour ago











  • Welcome to Worldbuilding, Stephen Burgos! If you have a moment, please take the tour and visit the help center to learn more about the site. You may also find Worldbuilding Meta and The Sandbox useful. Here is a meta post on the culture and style of Worldbuilding.SE, just to help you understand our scope and methods, and how we do things here. Have fun!

    – Gryphon
    1 hour ago











  • The cothing is composed primarily of cotton.

    – Stephen
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    You can get something beyond speculation if you can find details of historical gibbiting -- the public display of the bodies of dead criminals. In many cases they were allowed to decay away completely. It took more than a few days.

    – Mark Olson
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    In that case, @StephenBurgos definitely check into gibbeting. That's where people used to be locked into hanging cages until they died and their rotted corpses fell through the bars of the cage.

    – elemtilas
    52 mins ago



















  • What are the clothes composed of?

    – Arkenstein XII
    1 hour ago











  • Welcome to Worldbuilding, Stephen Burgos! If you have a moment, please take the tour and visit the help center to learn more about the site. You may also find Worldbuilding Meta and The Sandbox useful. Here is a meta post on the culture and style of Worldbuilding.SE, just to help you understand our scope and methods, and how we do things here. Have fun!

    – Gryphon
    1 hour ago











  • The cothing is composed primarily of cotton.

    – Stephen
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    You can get something beyond speculation if you can find details of historical gibbiting -- the public display of the bodies of dead criminals. In many cases they were allowed to decay away completely. It took more than a few days.

    – Mark Olson
    1 hour ago






  • 1





    In that case, @StephenBurgos definitely check into gibbeting. That's where people used to be locked into hanging cages until they died and their rotted corpses fell through the bars of the cage.

    – elemtilas
    52 mins ago

















What are the clothes composed of?

– Arkenstein XII
1 hour ago





What are the clothes composed of?

– Arkenstein XII
1 hour ago













Welcome to Worldbuilding, Stephen Burgos! If you have a moment, please take the tour and visit the help center to learn more about the site. You may also find Worldbuilding Meta and The Sandbox useful. Here is a meta post on the culture and style of Worldbuilding.SE, just to help you understand our scope and methods, and how we do things here. Have fun!

– Gryphon
1 hour ago





Welcome to Worldbuilding, Stephen Burgos! If you have a moment, please take the tour and visit the help center to learn more about the site. You may also find Worldbuilding Meta and The Sandbox useful. Here is a meta post on the culture and style of Worldbuilding.SE, just to help you understand our scope and methods, and how we do things here. Have fun!

– Gryphon
1 hour ago













The cothing is composed primarily of cotton.

– Stephen
1 hour ago





The cothing is composed primarily of cotton.

– Stephen
1 hour ago




1




1





You can get something beyond speculation if you can find details of historical gibbiting -- the public display of the bodies of dead criminals. In many cases they were allowed to decay away completely. It took more than a few days.

– Mark Olson
1 hour ago





You can get something beyond speculation if you can find details of historical gibbiting -- the public display of the bodies of dead criminals. In many cases they were allowed to decay away completely. It took more than a few days.

– Mark Olson
1 hour ago




1




1





In that case, @StephenBurgos definitely check into gibbeting. That's where people used to be locked into hanging cages until they died and their rotted corpses fell through the bars of the cage.

– elemtilas
52 mins ago





In that case, @StephenBurgos definitely check into gibbeting. That's where people used to be locked into hanging cages until they died and their rotted corpses fell through the bars of the cage.

– elemtilas
52 mins ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















5














You can have it stay up there as long as your story needs it to stay up there.



People sometimes climb up into trees and kill themselves. I remember reading about one such that winter hikers spotted. The body had been up there for years. I could not find that one again but here are others.




  1. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100499/Melissa-Joy-Dietzel-Decomposing-body-woman-30ft-tree-Sydney-missing-US-tourist.html


Her body was up in the tree for 2 weeks. It was a populated area and people smelled it.



2: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11404359.suicide-verdict-for-missing-21-year-old-found-in-tree-at-meyrick-park-golf-club/



This body was in the tree for three years. In a park!



3: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/5098610/Skeleton-found-in-tree-29-years-after-suicide.html



This body was a skeleton, found after 29 years.





Summary - if you want it to fall out after 3 days, fine. But decomposition is a lot slower up off the ground. Ants, worms and beetles access the body from the ground and a body on the ground will also stay moist which facilitates decomposition. Coyotes, armadillos and the like will not be able to get a body in a tree and depending how deep in the branches it is, vultures might not either. It is those big animals that pull a corpse apart.



What is left is insects and they will leave the skeleton intact. In your scenario, I suspect fly maggots will eliminate the soft parts while it is summer; that will also eliminate much of the ability of the corpse to hang on to moisture. Once the weather cools the insects die off and then what is left will desiccate in the dry cool winter. The desiccated sinews and muscles will hold the skeleton together and are not very attractive to scavengers. If you need it to stay up there lodged in the branches for decades, that can happen.






share|improve this answer

































    4














    It won't last a week.



    You are basically providing an ideal environment for normal decay. It takes less than 7 days for insects to basically skeletonize a human body (not counting some stringy bits), with the presence of larger scavengers it is unlikely to last even that long. On a normal tree it is unlikely to still be on the tree within a day or two, scavengers even insects can move a body around a lot. Without knowing hte exact environment it is hard to say exactly beyond this.



    enter image description here






    share|improve this answer

























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      2 Answers
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      2 Answers
      2






      active

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      active

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      active

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      5














      You can have it stay up there as long as your story needs it to stay up there.



      People sometimes climb up into trees and kill themselves. I remember reading about one such that winter hikers spotted. The body had been up there for years. I could not find that one again but here are others.




      1. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100499/Melissa-Joy-Dietzel-Decomposing-body-woman-30ft-tree-Sydney-missing-US-tourist.html


      Her body was up in the tree for 2 weeks. It was a populated area and people smelled it.



      2: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11404359.suicide-verdict-for-missing-21-year-old-found-in-tree-at-meyrick-park-golf-club/



      This body was in the tree for three years. In a park!



      3: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/5098610/Skeleton-found-in-tree-29-years-after-suicide.html



      This body was a skeleton, found after 29 years.





      Summary - if you want it to fall out after 3 days, fine. But decomposition is a lot slower up off the ground. Ants, worms and beetles access the body from the ground and a body on the ground will also stay moist which facilitates decomposition. Coyotes, armadillos and the like will not be able to get a body in a tree and depending how deep in the branches it is, vultures might not either. It is those big animals that pull a corpse apart.



      What is left is insects and they will leave the skeleton intact. In your scenario, I suspect fly maggots will eliminate the soft parts while it is summer; that will also eliminate much of the ability of the corpse to hang on to moisture. Once the weather cools the insects die off and then what is left will desiccate in the dry cool winter. The desiccated sinews and muscles will hold the skeleton together and are not very attractive to scavengers. If you need it to stay up there lodged in the branches for decades, that can happen.






      share|improve this answer






























        5














        You can have it stay up there as long as your story needs it to stay up there.



        People sometimes climb up into trees and kill themselves. I remember reading about one such that winter hikers spotted. The body had been up there for years. I could not find that one again but here are others.




        1. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100499/Melissa-Joy-Dietzel-Decomposing-body-woman-30ft-tree-Sydney-missing-US-tourist.html


        Her body was up in the tree for 2 weeks. It was a populated area and people smelled it.



        2: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11404359.suicide-verdict-for-missing-21-year-old-found-in-tree-at-meyrick-park-golf-club/



        This body was in the tree for three years. In a park!



        3: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/5098610/Skeleton-found-in-tree-29-years-after-suicide.html



        This body was a skeleton, found after 29 years.





        Summary - if you want it to fall out after 3 days, fine. But decomposition is a lot slower up off the ground. Ants, worms and beetles access the body from the ground and a body on the ground will also stay moist which facilitates decomposition. Coyotes, armadillos and the like will not be able to get a body in a tree and depending how deep in the branches it is, vultures might not either. It is those big animals that pull a corpse apart.



        What is left is insects and they will leave the skeleton intact. In your scenario, I suspect fly maggots will eliminate the soft parts while it is summer; that will also eliminate much of the ability of the corpse to hang on to moisture. Once the weather cools the insects die off and then what is left will desiccate in the dry cool winter. The desiccated sinews and muscles will hold the skeleton together and are not very attractive to scavengers. If you need it to stay up there lodged in the branches for decades, that can happen.






        share|improve this answer




























          5












          5








          5







          You can have it stay up there as long as your story needs it to stay up there.



          People sometimes climb up into trees and kill themselves. I remember reading about one such that winter hikers spotted. The body had been up there for years. I could not find that one again but here are others.




          1. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100499/Melissa-Joy-Dietzel-Decomposing-body-woman-30ft-tree-Sydney-missing-US-tourist.html


          Her body was up in the tree for 2 weeks. It was a populated area and people smelled it.



          2: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11404359.suicide-verdict-for-missing-21-year-old-found-in-tree-at-meyrick-park-golf-club/



          This body was in the tree for three years. In a park!



          3: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/5098610/Skeleton-found-in-tree-29-years-after-suicide.html



          This body was a skeleton, found after 29 years.





          Summary - if you want it to fall out after 3 days, fine. But decomposition is a lot slower up off the ground. Ants, worms and beetles access the body from the ground and a body on the ground will also stay moist which facilitates decomposition. Coyotes, armadillos and the like will not be able to get a body in a tree and depending how deep in the branches it is, vultures might not either. It is those big animals that pull a corpse apart.



          What is left is insects and they will leave the skeleton intact. In your scenario, I suspect fly maggots will eliminate the soft parts while it is summer; that will also eliminate much of the ability of the corpse to hang on to moisture. Once the weather cools the insects die off and then what is left will desiccate in the dry cool winter. The desiccated sinews and muscles will hold the skeleton together and are not very attractive to scavengers. If you need it to stay up there lodged in the branches for decades, that can happen.






          share|improve this answer















          You can have it stay up there as long as your story needs it to stay up there.



          People sometimes climb up into trees and kill themselves. I remember reading about one such that winter hikers spotted. The body had been up there for years. I could not find that one again but here are others.




          1. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100499/Melissa-Joy-Dietzel-Decomposing-body-woman-30ft-tree-Sydney-missing-US-tourist.html


          Her body was up in the tree for 2 weeks. It was a populated area and people smelled it.



          2: https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11404359.suicide-verdict-for-missing-21-year-old-found-in-tree-at-meyrick-park-golf-club/



          This body was in the tree for three years. In a park!



          3: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/5098610/Skeleton-found-in-tree-29-years-after-suicide.html



          This body was a skeleton, found after 29 years.





          Summary - if you want it to fall out after 3 days, fine. But decomposition is a lot slower up off the ground. Ants, worms and beetles access the body from the ground and a body on the ground will also stay moist which facilitates decomposition. Coyotes, armadillos and the like will not be able to get a body in a tree and depending how deep in the branches it is, vultures might not either. It is those big animals that pull a corpse apart.



          What is left is insects and they will leave the skeleton intact. In your scenario, I suspect fly maggots will eliminate the soft parts while it is summer; that will also eliminate much of the ability of the corpse to hang on to moisture. Once the weather cools the insects die off and then what is left will desiccate in the dry cool winter. The desiccated sinews and muscles will hold the skeleton together and are not very attractive to scavengers. If you need it to stay up there lodged in the branches for decades, that can happen.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 42 mins ago

























          answered 48 mins ago









          WillkWillk

          104k25197438




          104k25197438























              4














              It won't last a week.



              You are basically providing an ideal environment for normal decay. It takes less than 7 days for insects to basically skeletonize a human body (not counting some stringy bits), with the presence of larger scavengers it is unlikely to last even that long. On a normal tree it is unlikely to still be on the tree within a day or two, scavengers even insects can move a body around a lot. Without knowing hte exact environment it is hard to say exactly beyond this.



              enter image description here






              share|improve this answer






























                4














                It won't last a week.



                You are basically providing an ideal environment for normal decay. It takes less than 7 days for insects to basically skeletonize a human body (not counting some stringy bits), with the presence of larger scavengers it is unlikely to last even that long. On a normal tree it is unlikely to still be on the tree within a day or two, scavengers even insects can move a body around a lot. Without knowing hte exact environment it is hard to say exactly beyond this.



                enter image description here






                share|improve this answer




























                  4












                  4








                  4







                  It won't last a week.



                  You are basically providing an ideal environment for normal decay. It takes less than 7 days for insects to basically skeletonize a human body (not counting some stringy bits), with the presence of larger scavengers it is unlikely to last even that long. On a normal tree it is unlikely to still be on the tree within a day or two, scavengers even insects can move a body around a lot. Without knowing hte exact environment it is hard to say exactly beyond this.



                  enter image description here






                  share|improve this answer















                  It won't last a week.



                  You are basically providing an ideal environment for normal decay. It takes less than 7 days for insects to basically skeletonize a human body (not counting some stringy bits), with the presence of larger scavengers it is unlikely to last even that long. On a normal tree it is unlikely to still be on the tree within a day or two, scavengers even insects can move a body around a lot. Without knowing hte exact environment it is hard to say exactly beyond this.



                  enter image description here







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 1 hour ago

























                  answered 1 hour ago









                  JohnJohn

                  31.2k842111




                  31.2k842111






















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