Death and Dying

Question

When you die, how long does it take the human body to fully decompose?

Answer

Without preservation, a human body will decompose in a month or two. Of course, there are parts that will never decompose or take many years, such as much of the skeleton. When a body is embalmed, it is preserved and may take many more months to break down and some preservation may keep the body from decomposing for many centuries (for example: mummies). For more information, visit the following web site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_doctor/death_body.shtml