Saving Old Bones: a non-destructive method for bone collagen prescreening

Sponheimer, Matt; Ryder, Christina M.; Fewlass, Helen; Smith, Erin K.; Pestle, William J.; Talamo, Sahra

doi:10.1101/653212

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Elemental analysis provides information of %Nitrogen and %Carbon preserved in a bone, for example 54 . Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) is very helpful in this regard and can be performed without loss of sample material [55][56][57][58][59][60] . Chemical pretreatment of the sample material may either remove contamination with carbonates using acid such as solution of hydrochloric acid when looking at soil organic carbon, for example 61,62 , and/or isolate a particular chemical fraction from a complex mixture known to be less prone to contamination than other components, such as is the case when isolating collagen from a whole bone.…”

Section: [H2] Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiocarbon dating

Hajdas

Ascough

Garnett

et al. 2021

Nat Rev Methods Primers

126

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Radiocarbon dating uses the decay of a radioactive isotope of carbon ( 14 C) to measure time and date objects containing carbon-bearing material. With a half-life of 5,700 ± 30 years, detection of 14 C is a useful tool for determining the age of a specimen formed over the last 55,000 years. In this Primer, we outline key advances in 14 C measurement and instrument capacity, as well as optimal sample selection and preparation. We discuss data processing,

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Section: [H2] Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiocarbon dating

Hajdas

Ascough

Garnett

et al. 2021

Nat Rev Methods Primers

126

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…• Preservation status of the tooth/teeth: are they well preserved or not? Other than visual inspections, this can be further tested using various non-destructive methods such as near-infrared spectroscopy, 50 fluorescence imaging, 24 and micro-computed tomography screening and ion beam analysis. 51 • Analytical resources: access to instrumentation, funding, time, etc.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…C, N, and S)? Preservation status of the tooth/teeth: are they well preserved or not? Other than visual inspections, this can be further tested using various non‐destructive methods such as near‐infrared spectroscopy, 50 fluorescence imaging, 24 and micro‐computed tomography screening and ion beam analysis 51 Analytical resources: access to instrumentation, funding, time, etc. Similar to most techniques, there are pros and cons associated with either approach, but with careful mitigations and/or tactful compromises, some cons may be avertible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro‐punches versus micro‐slices for serial sampling of human dentine: Striking a balance between improved temporal resolution and measuring additional isotope systems

Cheung

Fernández-Crespo

Mion

et al. 2022

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

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Rationale The last decade has seen a dramatic increase in the application of serial sampling of human dentine in archaeology. Rapid development in the field has provided many improvements in the methodology, in terms of both time resolution as well as the ability to integrate more isotope systems in the analysis. This study provides a comparison of two common sampling approaches, allowing researchers to select the most suitable approach for addressing specific research questions. Methods Two common approaches for sequential sampling of human dentine (micro‐punches and micro‐slices) are compared in terms of viability and efficacy. Using archaeological deciduous second molars and permanent first molars, this study demonstrates how the two approaches capture aspects of the weaning process in different ways. In addition, different aspects related to the extraction protocols, such as the thickness of the central slide and the solubilisation step, are also evaluated. Results While both approaches show similar intra‐tooth isotopic patterns, the micro‐punches approach is preferable for research that requires a very fine temporal resolution, while the micro‐slices approach is best for research where δ 34 S values are needed, or when the samples are poorly preserved. In addition, the solubilisation step has a large effect on collagen yield, and, to a lesser extent, on isotopic compositions. Therefore, it is important to ensure that only samples that have undergone the same pre‐treatment protocol are directly compared. Conclusions We present the pros and cons of the two micro‐sampling approaches and offer possible mitigation strategies to address some of the most important issues related to each approach.

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“…A study could be planned to establish the age of the specimens, the gender, the possible diseases, and the presence and degree of osteoporosis. For this purpose, the bones could be subjected to (i) microphotography of all samples; (ii) computed tomography (CT); (iii) dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) 77 ; (iv) near‐infrared spectroscopy for gauging the collagen content 78 ; (v) if authorized, radiocarbon dating 79 ; (vi) if authorized, ancient DNA analysis 80 ; (vii) if authorized, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) 81 performed for establishing or unraveling diet and social status of the deaths and finding trace elements of Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Sr, Ba, and Pb. Note that methods of the points (i)–(iv) do not need destruction of the samples, while methods (v)–(vii) are based on the destruction of micro‐fragments of the specimens, that is, about 1–2 mm (roughly, 1–40 mg), for each examination.…”

Section: Solution To the Abelardian Quandarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Castration and emasculation in the Middle Age. The andrological conundrum of Peter Abelard

et al. 2022

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Peter Abelard (1079-1142) is still considered one of the giants of philosophy, theology, and psychology, and the unsurpassed master of dialectical debate. Born in Le Pallet, near Nantes, Abelard became an academic and wandering cleric of great fame, founder of several schools that attracted students from all countries, arousing the admiration of his contemporaries and the profound envy of his colleagues. Around 1115, Abelard became master of the school of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. Shortly after, the canon Fulbert asked him to take his niece, the equally famous and highly cultured Héloïse d'Argenteuil (1092-1164), as a pupil. Thus a relationship began, celebrated for centuries to come, characterized by burning sexual and intellectual passion, by the famous correspondence, which will be the archetype of sentimental education and the template of romantic love letters, bythe birth of a son and consequent marriage, and by the cowardly revenge of Fulbert, who, together with a band of servants, mutilated "those parts of my body with which I had done what was the cause of their pain," as Abelard wrote. While this unclear self-description has suggested to contemporaries and to posterity that Abelard was castrated, we aim to question this belief by analyzing in-depth this historical-andrological clinical case to understand if there is any evidence that could suggest that Abelard was instead the victim of an even more brutal punishment: penectomy. Signs and symptoms gleaned from the personal writings and historical perspectives of Abelard and his time are used here to provide a possible answer to a thousand-year-old question: what makes a man . . . a man?

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Saving Old Bones: a non-destructive method for bone collagen prescreening

Cited by 5 publications

References 24 publications

Radiocarbon dating

Radiocarbon dating

Micro‐punches versus micro‐slices for serial sampling of human dentine: Striking a balance between improved temporal resolution and measuring additional isotope systems

Castration and emasculation in the Middle Age. The andrological conundrum of Peter Abelard

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