The strange case of Apigliano: Early 'fossilization' of medieval bone in southern Italy

C. I. Smith; C. M. Nielsen-Marsh; M. M.E. Jans; P. Arthur; A. G. Nord; M. J. Collins

doi:10.1111/1475-4754.t01-1-00073

The strange case of Apigliano: Early 'fossilization' of medieval bone in southern Italy

C. I. Smith, C. M. Nielsen-Marsh, M. M.E. Jans, P. Arthur, A. G. Nord, M. J. Collins

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The preservation of the osteological material at the medieval site of Apigliano, in southern Italy, is characterized by bones with highly crystalline, and altered, mineral phases. In addition to this, some material retains perfect histological preservation, with the exception of small microfissures present throughout this structure. Diagenetic porosity is indicative of collagen loss via chemical degradation. The levels of residual collagen in these bones are much lower than is predicted from simple models of gelatinization, and thus a more complex explanation for the state of preservation must be sought. Possible explanations for the rapid loss of bone collagen are considered, including a high-temperature event, the acceleration of hydrolysis due to liming and extreme wetting and drying cycles.

Original language	English
Journal	Archaeometry
Volume	44
Issue number	3
Pages (from-to)	405-415
Number of pages	11
ISSN	0003-813X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-4754.t01-1-00073
Publication status	Published - Aug 2002

Keywords

Apigliano
Bone
Collagen
Diagenesis
Fossilization
Porosity

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10.1111/1475-4754.t01-1-00073

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title = "The strange case of Apigliano: Early 'fossilization' of medieval bone in southern Italy",

abstract = "The preservation of the osteological material at the medieval site of Apigliano, in southern Italy, is characterized by bones with highly crystalline, and altered, mineral phases. In addition to this, some material retains perfect histological preservation, with the exception of small microfissures present throughout this structure. Diagenetic porosity is indicative of collagen loss via chemical degradation. The levels of residual collagen in these bones are much lower than is predicted from simple models of gelatinization, and thus a more complex explanation for the state of preservation must be sought. Possible explanations for the rapid loss of bone collagen are considered, including a high-temperature event, the acceleration of hydrolysis due to liming and extreme wetting and drying cycles.",

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AU - Smith, C. I.

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AB - The preservation of the osteological material at the medieval site of Apigliano, in southern Italy, is characterized by bones with highly crystalline, and altered, mineral phases. In addition to this, some material retains perfect histological preservation, with the exception of small microfissures present throughout this structure. Diagenetic porosity is indicative of collagen loss via chemical degradation. The levels of residual collagen in these bones are much lower than is predicted from simple models of gelatinization, and thus a more complex explanation for the state of preservation must be sought. Possible explanations for the rapid loss of bone collagen are considered, including a high-temperature event, the acceleration of hydrolysis due to liming and extreme wetting and drying cycles.

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The strange case of Apigliano: Early 'fossilization' of medieval bone in southern Italy

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Keywords

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