Bone diagenesis in the European Holocene I: patterns and mechanisms

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bone diagenesis in the European Holocene I

T2 - patterns and mechanisms

AU - Smith, C. I.

AU - Nielsen-Marsh, C. M.

AU - Jans, M. M.E.

AU - Collins, M. J.

PY - 2007/9

Y1 - 2007/9

N2 - Diagenetic changes in archaeological bone are known to influence the data derived from such material and have thus been the subject of numerous studies. A number of general trends have been observed, but many of the processes that occur are still not fully understood. We present here the analysis of 195 bones excavated from 32 sites in five different countries from Eurasia characterized using 10 simple diagenetic parameters. The results reveal that most European Holocene archaeological bone can be categorized by only four main diagenetic states related to three distinct trajectories that describe more than 60% of the variation in these parameters. Given the potential amount of variation in the dataset the small number of diagenetic pathways is surprising, but highlights the large importance of a few key factors that influence bone diagenesis. Mercury intrusion porosimetry is a key technique for identifying modes of degradation.

AB - Diagenetic changes in archaeological bone are known to influence the data derived from such material and have thus been the subject of numerous studies. A number of general trends have been observed, but many of the processes that occur are still not fully understood. We present here the analysis of 195 bones excavated from 32 sites in five different countries from Eurasia characterized using 10 simple diagenetic parameters. The results reveal that most European Holocene archaeological bone can be categorized by only four main diagenetic states related to three distinct trajectories that describe more than 60% of the variation in these parameters. Given the potential amount of variation in the dataset the small number of diagenetic pathways is surprising, but highlights the large importance of a few key factors that influence bone diagenesis. Mercury intrusion porosimetry is a key technique for identifying modes of degradation.

KW - Bone diagenesis

KW - Diagenetic parameters

KW - Diagenetic trajectories

KW - Microbial attack

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34447293049&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2006.11.006

DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2006.11.006

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:34447293049

SN - 0305-4403

VL - 34

SP - 1485

EP - 1493

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science

IS - 9

ER -