The survival of organic matter in bone: A review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The survival of organic matter in bone

T2 - A review

AU - Collins, M. J.

AU - Nielsen-Marsh, C. M.

AU - Hiller, J.

AU - Smith, C. I.

AU - Roberts, J. P.

AU - Prigodich, R. V.

AU - Wess, T. J.

AU - Csapò, J.

AU - Millard, A. R.

AU - Turner-Walker, G.

PY - 2002/8

Y1 - 2002/8

N2 - If bone is considered as a composite of collagen (protein) and bioapatite (mineral), then three pathways of diagenesis are identified: (1) chemical deterioration of the organic phase; (2) chemical deterioration of the mineral phase; and (3) (micro)biological attack of the composite. The first of these three pathways is relatively unusual and will only occur in environments that are geochemically stable for bone mineral. However, because rates of biomolecular deterioration in the burial environment are slow, such bones would yield useful biomolecular information. In most environments, bones are not in thermodynamic equilibrium with the soil solution, and undergo chemical deterioration (path 2). Dissolution of the mineral exposes collagen to biodeterioration, and in most cases the initial phase of dissolution will be followed by microbial attack (path 3). Biological attack (3) also proceeds by initial demineralization; therefore paths 2 and 3 are functionally equivalent. However, in a bone that follows path 3 the damage is more localized than in path 2, and regions equivalent to path 1 may therefore exist outside these zones of destruction. Other biomolecules, such as blood proteins, cellular lipids and DNA, exist within the physiological spaces within bone. For these biomolecules, death history may be particularly important for their survival.

AB - If bone is considered as a composite of collagen (protein) and bioapatite (mineral), then three pathways of diagenesis are identified: (1) chemical deterioration of the organic phase; (2) chemical deterioration of the mineral phase; and (3) (micro)biological attack of the composite. The first of these three pathways is relatively unusual and will only occur in environments that are geochemically stable for bone mineral. However, because rates of biomolecular deterioration in the burial environment are slow, such bones would yield useful biomolecular information. In most environments, bones are not in thermodynamic equilibrium with the soil solution, and undergo chemical deterioration (path 2). Dissolution of the mineral exposes collagen to biodeterioration, and in most cases the initial phase of dissolution will be followed by microbial attack (path 3). Biological attack (3) also proceeds by initial demineralization; therefore paths 2 and 3 are functionally equivalent. However, in a bone that follows path 3 the damage is more localized than in path 2, and regions equivalent to path 1 may therefore exist outside these zones of destruction. Other biomolecules, such as blood proteins, cellular lipids and DNA, exist within the physiological spaces within bone. For these biomolecules, death history may be particularly important for their survival.

KW - Bone diagenesis

KW - Cholesterol

KW - Collagen

KW - DNA

KW - Osteocalcin

KW - Porosity

KW - Racemization

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036668901&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/1475-4754.t01-1-00071

DO - 10.1111/1475-4754.t01-1-00071

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:0036668901

SN - 0003-813X

VL - 44

SP - 383

EP - 394

JO - Archaeometry

JF - Archaeometry

IS - 3

ER -