Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

M. M.E. Jans; C. M. Nielsen-Marsh; C. I. Smith; M. J. Collins; H. Kars

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2003.07.007

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

M. M.E. Jans^*, C. M. Nielsen-Marsh, C. I. Smith, M. J. Collins, H. Kars

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

233 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Journal of Archaeological Science
Vol/bind	31
Udgave nummer	1
Sider (fra-til)	87-95
Antal sider	9
ISSN	0305-4403
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2003.07.007
Status	Udgivet - jan. 2004

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1016/j.jas.2003.07.007

Andre filer og links

Link to publication in Scopus

Citationsformater

@article{bfa393f07dd84a6fabb64bffec01df4e,

title = "Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone",

abstract = "As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones.",

keywords = "Archaeological bone, Diagenesis, Histology, Mercury intrusion porosimetry, Microbial attack",

author = "Jans, {M. M.E.} and Nielsen-Marsh, {C. M.} and Smith, {C. I.} and Collins, {M. J.} and H. Kars",

year = "2004",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.jas.2003.07.007",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

pages = "87--95",

journal = "Journal of Archaeological Science",

issn = "0305-4403",

publisher = "Academic Press",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

AU - Jans, M. M.E.

AU - Nielsen-Marsh, C. M.

AU - Smith, C. I.

AU - Collins, M. J.

AU - Kars, H.

PY - 2004/1

Y1 - 2004/1

N2 - As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones.

AB - As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones.

KW - Archaeological bone

KW - Diagenesis

KW - Histology

KW - Mercury intrusion porosimetry

KW - Microbial attack

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0346009091&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2003.07.007

DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2003.07.007

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:0346009091

SN - 0305-4403

VL - 31

SP - 87

EP - 95

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science

IS - 1

ER -

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

Abstract

Adgang til dokumentet

Andre filer og links

Fingeraftryk

Citationsformater