A question about decomposing bodies?

Question

im attempting to write a novella and i am having some problems finding some information i need for an acurate desciption

anyway how much decomposition would their be on a human body lets asume the man was

20 years of age

in seemingly perfectly fit condition

the body was not embalmed ( I hope thats right)

placed in a oak casket that had been waxed and seeled

approximately (assume best condition)

how much decomposition would their be after six months a year and two years

Answer 1

A wooden casket cannot be sealed.  Wood is a porous material, therefore is does not seal.  A non-embalmed body, relatively regardless of the type of casket it was in, would decompose quickly.  There would be advanced decomposition after a few weeks.  Fluids from decomposition would leak from a wooden casket, whereas a sealed, metal casket would contain the fluid to the casket and would not leak out like a wodden caset would.

Answer 2

There are many variables; temperature, humidity, insect access, etc. But generally there would be massive decomp after 6 months. After a year or two, the body also loses moisture and shrinks/shrivels.