This is the second in a two-part mini series on forensic taphonomy centres or body farms. This week Lynda and Cass are meeting Dr Anna Williams, Professor of Forensic Science at the University of Central Lancashire. 

At present there are only a dozen body farms established around the world and none in the UK, but Anna has been advocating for establishing one in the UK for over a decade. In this episode we look at the reasons why Anna has found it so challenging to establish a UK body farm and what value it might bring to our forensic sciences. 

Forensic taphonomy is the study of what happens to a body between death and discovery. It’s one of the oldest forensic disciplines and one of the most controversial. Why? Because to properly study forensic taphonomy you need bodies. The Victorians took them from graveyards, these days we have body farms. 

Body farms have proved to be a vital resource for forensic scientists to learn more about how and why bodies decompose in certain conditions. It’s a hugely complex subject which brings in factors like climate, soil, insects, scavengers, diet and many more. 

To learn more about Anna’s work on Forensic Taphonomy in the UK, visit:

https://htf4uk.blogspot.com and http://www.forensicanna.com

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Lynda La Plante's new book The Scene of the Crime, featuring a team of forensic scientists, is out on the 31st July 2025 in all formats.

To find out more about upcoming episodes of Listening to the Dead and Lynda's other books, visit www.lyndalaplante.com

Credits:

This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK

Hosts: Lynda La Plante, Cass Sutherland and Jon Watt

Director: Jon Watt

Producer: Laura Makela

Theme Music: Game Over by Magic in the Other