Major Events in Decomposition

Fresh stage (0-12 hours after death)

5 BCE

Four major things happen during the fresh stage:
livor mortis-the pooling of blood in certain parts of your body
algor mortis-the cooling of the body by two degrees per hour until it reached the temperature of the surrounding environment
rigor mortis-muscle stiffening
autolysis-cell death

Early decomposition stage

4 BCE

Your skin begins to change colors and appear like marble. Flies and maggots begin to colonize your body and break down your flesh and tissue. The body begins putrefaction and starts to smell and bloat. This causes your body to smell, bloat, blister, and fill with fluid. Liquids formed from putrefication ooze out of your mouth and eyes.

Advanced decomposition stage

3 BCE

Sagging skin becomes prominent and maggot activity is booming. The bones starts becoming exposed.

Skeletonization

2 BCE

By skeletonization, most of the tissues have decayed and been eaten by insects. The skeleton is greasy from the soft tissues and body fluids from the early stages. The tissues will dry out and become flaky and then eventually break down. After several years, the skeleton will be completely exposed.

Decomposition of the skeleton

1 BCE

At this stage, all of the tissues and fluids are gone and the skeleton is completely dry. The bones are bleached from the sun or damaged from scavenging. The bones will eventually decay.