the worthless word for the day is: taphonomy

[fr. Gk taphe, burial + -nomy] /tuh FON uh me/
the study of the processes that affect animal and
plant remains as they become fossilized; also,
the processes themselves; hence, taphonomic

"TV crime-scene forensics series present taphonomic
adventures week after week, teasing out the likely
when, where, and how of one or another winsome
corpse."
- The Guardian, 13 February 2012

(thanx to Ravi)

-tsuwm
http://home.comcast.net/~wwftd