Radiocarbon and Stable Isotope Analyses of Archaeological Bone Consolidated with Hide Glue

Abstract

We tested a simple method for removing a collagen-based glue preservative from bone destined for radiocarbon and stable isotope analyses. The method is sufficient for bone samples from which only stable isotope measurements are required. For 14C dating, such samples of age less than about 10 ka can be adequately dated, but for older samples, the circumstances must be carefully evaluated.

The effects of Paraloid B‐72 and Butvar B‐98 treatment and organic solvent removal on δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O values of collagen and hydroxyapatite in a modern bone

“…These findings support previous research which also found no effects of other consolidants or solvents on collagen stable isotope values (Moore et al, 1989;Tuross and Fogel, 1992;Takahashi et al, 2002;France et al, 2011).…”

“…In general, collagen carbon and nitrogen isotopes appear unaffected by application of consolidants or solvents (Moore et al, 1989;Tuross and Fogel, 1992;Takahashi et al, 2002;France et al, 2011), except in cases where solvents are specifically chosen to remove lipids which tends to enrich carbon isotope values (Hobson et al, 1994;Hilderbrand et al, 1996;Hobson et al, 1997;Burton et al, 2001;Post, 2002). Very few studies have examined effects of consolidants and solvents on hydroxyapatite isotope values.…”

Possible interferences of some conservation treatments with subsequent studies on fossil bones: A conservator’s overview

“…Some of these works in fact deal with both cleaning techniques and consolidation products at the same time (Fernández Jalvo and Marín Monfort, 2008;Eklund and Thomas, 2010). Study has included articles based on the study of the topography of the surface of the bone (Bromage, 1984;Matienzo and Snow, 1986;Fernández Jalvo and Marín Monfort, 2008) and others based on the study of components of scientific interest extracted from bones, specifically DNA (Eklund and Thomas, 2010), stable isotopes (Moore et al, 1989;Stephan's, 2000;Takahashi and Nelson, 2002) and 14 C (Law et al, 1991;Takahashi and Nelson, 2002). The results show that some conservation techniques and products may interfere with subsequent scientific analyses performed on fossils.…”

“…Some results have also shown that animal glue does not significantly affect the analysis of d 13 C and d 15 N content (Takahashi and Nelson, 2002). Furthermore, in Stephan's (2000) assay on the influence of different consolidants on the analysis of d 18 Ot, he tested two PVAc based consolidants (Mowilith 50 Ò and Ponal Ò ), one cellulose nitrate (Zaponlack) and the natural product shellac and concluded that none of them influence the oxygen analysis.…”

“…One experiment performed with bones treated with hide glue (glue made of animal collagen) found that 14 C measurements were influenced by the treatment (Takahashi and Nelson, 2002). In another study, the modern synthetic material Vinamul 6815 (a PVAc consolidant) is reported to have had some effect, but to have been successfully removed by filtration during sample preparation.…”