Histological Estimation of Age at Death from the Compact Bone of Burned and Unburned Human Ribs

Abstract

This study describes the estimation of age at death from the compact bone of burned and unburned human ribs. Bone samples came from individuals of known age, sex, and cause of death. Each bone was divided into four sections; three sections were burned at 700, 800, and 1000°C. Undecalcified, unstained ground cross sections were photographed, and 28 variables were analyzed in the bones using SigmaScan Pro 5. Age-related as well as heat-induced microstructural changes were found. These changes were often very similar and made estimating the age at death difficult in the burned bones. Differences between the sexes were found in some variables, caused by both aging and also by the different behavior of some variables during burning. Regression equations were developed to estimate age at death for unburned bones (r² = 0.579 and 0.707), bones burned at 700°C (r² = 0.453 and 0.501), and 800°C (r² = 0.334 and 0.340).

Burning by numbers: A pilot study using quantitative petrography in the analysis of heat‐induced alteration in burned bone

“…The results obtained from using quantitative petrography in the analysis of burned bone compliment those ascertained by previous histological research (Absolonová et al, 2013; Castillo et al, 2013; Squires et al, 2011) and those derived from the examination of macroscopic colour (Ullinger & Sheridan, 2015). This is encouraging and, when teamed with the data from the interobserver study, shows that this method is reliable.…”

“…With regard to the preservation of histological microstructure, Brain (1993), Squires et al (2011) and Absolonová et al (2013) report that structures are still visible at 600°C. However, Hanson and Cain (2007) observed that histological structure disappeared between 482°C and 620°C.…”

Estimating age at death from an archaeological bone sample – a preliminary study based on comparison of histomorphometric methods

“…Nonetheless, anthropologists have attempted to apply histomorphometry in age at death assessment, as quantitative methods such as histomorphometry are considered more objective by default, and clear and precise guidelines could ensure methodological reproducibility and repeatability. Also, some attempts have been made to analyse burned remains using histological methods (Absolonova et al 2012). Incinerated remains are extremely difficult to analyse due to extensive tissue damage.…”

The application of quantitative petrography and macroscopic colour change in a comparative analysis of Roman and Anglo‐Saxon cremation practices

“…For example, examiners have reported both an increase and decrease in osteon size as a result of an increase in temperature (Bradtmiller & Buikstra, 1984;Forbes, 1941;Hummel & Schutkowski, 1993;Nelson, 1992). In addition, the depletion of histological structure has also been described to occur at different temperatures (Absolonová, Veleminsky, Dobisikova, Beran, & Zocova, 2013;Brain, 1993;Hanson & Cain, 2007;Squires et al, 2011). These discrepancies have been attributed to a lack of standardisation in experimental design and sampling methods (Gonçalves, 2011).…”