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 for this work

233 Citations (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.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Science
Volume	31
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	87-95
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0305-4403
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2003.07.007
Publication status	Published - Jan 2004

Keywords

Archaeological bone
Diagenesis
Histology
Mercury intrusion porosimetry
Microbial attack

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10.1016/j.jas.2003.07.007

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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",

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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

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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

Keywords

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