Taphonomy is concerned with reconstruction of biological and sedimentary processes leading to preservation of faunal remains in the stratigraphic record; traditionally, it has been viewed as a specialized branch of paleontology. Recognition of the value of taphonomic work on skeletal remains in fluvial sediments is a fairly new development. The fact that many units of Late Paleozoic to Tertiary alluvium apparently lack vertebrate remains implies either surficial or diagenetic destruction, adverse paleoecological conditions, or oversight in the course of sedimentological studies.

In geologic terms, mortality, postmortem developments and burial are stages that develop quickly within channel or overbank settings. Reworking of skeletal debris into younger stratigraphic intervals also occurs, particularly in multistory channel sequences. Remains are classified in terms of their degree of articulation and concentration. Each mode of preservation has a fairly characteristic set of background conditions relating to the cause and location of mortality in the context of concurrent sedimentary activity. Taphonomic studies of well exposed units should adopt a standard scheme of site notation, record locations precisely, and make a comprehensive log of paleontological and sedimentary features.

Depositional systems near base level with lowland taxa, i.e., meander plains and estuarine complexes, are the main target for taphonomic studies. Sedimentary regimes particularly conducive to vertebrate preservation include pedogenesis, standing-water bodies, bankfull and above-bankfull discharge, channel-base lags, and amalgamation surfaces in multistory sequences. As well as assisting in facies and architectural studies of fluvial systems, skeletal remains can provide valuable insight into the hydrologic conditions of paleochannels.