The application of a chemical assessment of archaeological animal bone by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction

Abstract

For the application of chemical assessment standards by the extent of diagenetic alteration, we investigated three archaeological animal bones and a modern animal bone using Fourier transform infraredattenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The calculating results of crystallinity index (CI), carbonate-to-phosphate (C/P) and carbonate-to-carbonate (C/C) using FTIR-ATR spectra showed differences CI and C/P according to the preservative condition of animal bones. By comparison of the crystallinity contents using XRD patterns, the states of animal bones were distinguished to the range of 30°-35°. As results of FTIR-ATR and XRD analysis, it is suggested that Mongolian large mammals bone presents the best preservative condition, and cattle bone from Naju site, and Haman site followed. In addition,