A comparative analysis of microscopic alterations in modern and ancient undecalcified and decalcified dry bones

Caruso, Valentina; Cummaudo, Marco; Maderna, Emanuela; Cappella, Annalisa; Caudullo, Giorgio; Scarpulla, Valentina; Cattaneo, Cristina

doi:10.1002/ajpa.23348

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…However, it is difficult to estimate the degree of alterations on a spatial scale larger than the microscopic field of view (here at 40x total magnification the field of view is c. 5 mm). Inter-observer variations cannot be avoided, while section thickness and decalcification can also affect GHI (or OHI) reliability for screening collagen preservation (Caruso et al, 2018). Inter-site variations (thermally older sites will have less collagen, e.g.…”

Section: Histological Preservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Petrous bone diagenesis: a multi-analytical approach

Kontopoulos

Penkman

McAllister

et al. 2019

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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• The human petrous bone has different histomorphology from other skeletal elements • No microscopic focal destructions observed in human petrous bones • Only few merged osteocyte lacunae may indicate some limited microbial presence • Generalized destruction is linked with decreased levels of endogenous DNA • Dissolution/recrystallization of bioapatite is linked with loss of endogenous DNA

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Section: Histological Preservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Petrous bone diagenesis: a multi-analytical approach

Kontopoulos

Penkman

McAllister

et al. 2019

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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“…Generalized destruction (Fig. 3a) is accompanied by a loss of birefringence in the amorphous areas under cross polarized light, linked to a loss of collagen (Piepenbrink 1986;Garland 1989;Collins et al 2002;Caruso et al 2018). The two human petrous bones also have many amorphous, disintegrated areas of bone (Fig.…”

Section: Histological Preservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bone diagenesis in a Mycenaean secondary burial (Kastrouli, Greece)

Kontopoulos

Penkman

Liritzis

et al. 2019

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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This paper presents the characteristics of bone diagenesis in a secondary commingled Mycenaean burial in Kastrouli (Phocis, Greece) through the histological (light microscopy), physical (FTIR-ATR), and biochemical (collagen) analysis of seventeen human (including two petrous bones) and seven animal bones. Post-mortem modifications in bone microstructure, bioapatite, and collagen were characteristic of burial environments with seasonal groundwater and temperature fluctuations. The two human petrous bones displayed a lack of microscopic focal destruction (MFD) sites and a generally good histological preservation, but although a small sample size, did not show any better bioapatite and collagen preservation compared with human femora. Intra-site variations were defined by three main diagenetic patterns that display differences in histological modifications, crystallinity changes, and collagen degradation. These different patterns were either related to different microenvironment conditions and/or influenced by possible differences in the early taphonomic histories experienced by bones prior to secondary deposition. Further, this study highlights the importance of infrared splitting factor (IRSF), carbonate/phosphate ratio (C/P), and general histological index (GHI) for the qualitative assessment of archaeological bone, and the potential use of amide/phosphate ratio (Am/P) as a collagen predictor.

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“…Although the samples of the present study were collected from the same cemetery and remained in situ throughout the burial period in the same conditions, no correlation between bone matrix loss and period of inhumation was observed. Despite that, a recent study concluded that the more ancient samples are more extensive microscopic focal destruction and recent samples exhibited a better preservation of bone micromorphology [51]. Furthermore, five out of thirty-nine exhumed samples showed less no bone area than other cases, even after being buried for many years (Table 1).…”

Section: Fsi _2018mentioning

confidence: 96%