How Bones Tell Time: A Writer’s Guide to Trauma & Decomposition

How do bones reveal when something happened?In this episode, we break down how forensic anthropologists distinguish between antemortem, perimortem, and postmortem trauma and how the entire body acts as a clock through the decomposition process.A clear, friendly, writer-focused guide to:Healing vs fresh injuriesBone behavior at the moment of deathEnvironmental damage after deathThe full decomposition timelineTaphonomy (insects, scavengers, soil, weather)How to use this knowledge in fiction, D&D, mysteries, and worldbuildingIf you’re a storyteller who wants your scenes to feel real without being graphic, this episode is for you.Ethical, accessible, and grounded in forensic anthropology.