The North Knoxville Body Farm
The William K. Bass Center for Forensic Observation is one of the largest collections of skeletal remains in the modern world. It has been invaluable for research in the field of forensic anthropology.
Behind the University of Tennessee, a little outside of Knoxville, there’s a 2.5 acre plot of land surrounded by a razor wire fence. This is the body farm, where forensic scientists and researchers learn about human decomposition. When William K. Bass first opened his center to study human remains in 1981, he had one dead body and a 16 square foot cage. By 2007, the farm had over 150 decaying specimen – many donated to the farm by interested volunteers.
You can see a short three part video in which the founder discusses the facility here
March 30, 2012 at 1:48 pm
I read about this in Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers (by Mary Roach) and was just talking about it last night! Thank you for sharing!
March 30, 2012 at 1:48 pm
That book was awesome.
March 31, 2012 at 12:26 am
I just read that book. lol
March 30, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Another reason to come visit me! We are only a couple hours from the body farm. I have to wonder if Dr. Bass’s body will visit his farm someday & in if he has a say in which way it decomposes.
March 30, 2012 at 11:45 pm
If Dr. Bass did that…he would be truly awesome. What a way to “personally” contribute to his legacy!
March 30, 2012 at 3:49 pm
I first read about the Body Farm in one of my favorite books, Cemetery Stories by Katherine Ramsland. Too cool. Carrie said I should read your blog and then the first post I see is about something I read about all the time. I can’t wait to see what else you have here.
It makes me want to blog again. lol
March 30, 2012 at 11:46 pm
Welcome! I update daily so I hope you visit often!
March 30, 2012 at 5:33 pm
fascinating. there was a drama series on tv (british) called the body farm
March 30, 2012 at 11:46 pm
Was it any good?
March 31, 2012 at 10:13 am
yes it was great, shame the series finished, it was about people who worked there and they used their knowledge to help solve crimes and do autopsies, it wasnt real but im sure some of it was based on real life practise
March 31, 2012 at 9:43 am
To quote Bart Simpson “Gross! Yet strangely compelling”.
March 31, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Haha…The Simpsons is one of my favorite sources for such pearls of wisdom!
March 6, 2013 at 10:43 am
Exactly what i was looking for, now this just solved my problem