Free Fatty Acids Composition in Adipocere of the Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchí Ancient Remains Found in a Glacier*

Analysis of adipocere from the ancient remains of Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchí, discovered in a retreating glacier in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, revealed milligram per gram levels of saturated free fatty acids (FFAs), including myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. Negligible amounts of unsaturated FFAs, such as palmitoleic acid, were detected. This study applied a robust method for extracting, identifying, and quantifying FFAs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The findings further corroborate the presence of adipocere in forensic examinations of these ancient remains.

Liu, C., Park, H. M., Monsalve, M. V., & Chen, D. D. Y. (2010). Free Fatty Acids Composition in Adipocere of the Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchí Ancient Remains Found in a Glacier*. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 55(4), 1039–1043. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01373.x