The Upper Paleolithic hard animal tissue under the microscope: Selected examples from Moravian sites

Sázelová, Sandra; Boriová, Soňa; Šáliová, Soňa

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2020.10.027

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…When differentiating human from nonhuman bone, histologists generally focus on the presence or absence of key histological structures such as primary fibrolamellar plexiform bone or osteon banding [e.g. [12][13][14][15][16][17]. Alternatives to qualitative observation have been explored more recently, including histomorphometric variation to differentiate human from nonhuman bone [18][19][20][21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of drifting osteons distinguishes human bone

French,

Mavroudas,

Dominguez

2024

PLoS ONE

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The histological, or microscopic, appearance of bone tissue has long been studied to identify species-specific traits. There are several known histological characteristics to discriminate animal bone from human, but currently no histological characteristic that has been consistently identified in human bone exclusive to other mammals. The drifting osteon is a rare morphotype found in human long bones and observationally is typically absent from common mammalian domesticates. We surveyed previously prepared undecalcified histological sections from 25 species (human n = 221; nonhuman primate n = 24; nonprimate n = 169) to see if 1) drifting osteons were indeed more common in humans and 2) this could be a discriminating factor to identify human bone histologically. We conclude that drifting osteons are indeed more prevalent in human and nonhuman primate bone relative to nonprimate mammalian bone. Two criteria identify a rib or long bone fragment as human, assuming the fragment is unlikely to be from a nonhuman primate given the archaeological context: 1) at least two drifting osteons are present in the cross-section and 2) a drifting osteon prevalence (or as a percentage of total secondary osteons) of ≥ 1%. We present a quantitative histological method that can positively discriminate human bone from nonprimate mammalian bone in archaeological contexts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of drifting osteons distinguishes human bone

French,

Mavroudas,

Dominguez

2024

PLoS ONE

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“…Histomorphometric techniques use measurements of microstructural features, such as osteon circularity or osteon area, to differentiate human from nonhuman bone (Cattaneo et al, 1999; Dominguez & Crowder, 2012; Jowsey, 1966; Martiniaková et al, 2007; Urbanová & Novotny, 2005). Although these techniques have previously been attempted in archaeological contexts (Gigante et al, 2021; Sázelová et al, 2021), they were developed on samples of known anatomical position and have not been validated on fragmentary bone of unknown anatomical location. Variation in osteon size and geometry has been documented across elements and even within histological sections; therefore, controlling for anatomical location is essential (Cummaudo et al, 2018; Nganvongpanit et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Histomorphological techniques use qualitative observations of bone microstructure and have been employed successfully in both forensic and archaeological contexts to differentiate human from nonhuman skeletal remains (Cuijpers, 2006(Cuijpers, , 2009Dixon et al, 2011;Gigante et al, 2021;Hanson & Cain, 2007;Owsley et al, 1985;Sawada et al, 2014;Sázelová et al, 2021). Species differentiation by histomorphology is based on long-held observations that bone modeling rate determines primary bone organization (Amprino, 1947;de Margerie et al, 2002de Margerie et al, , 2004.…”

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confidence: 99%

Integrating histology in the analysis of multispecies cremations: A case study from early medieval England

French

Crowder

Crabtree

2022

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Methodological options for differentiating commingled human from nonhuman calcined remains are limited. A zooarchaeological analysis of human cremations from three early medieval sites in the Avon Valley (Warwickshire, England) identified commingled animal remains in burials from the site of Bidford-on-Avon, but not at the contemporary sites of Wasperton and Alveston Manor. A histological study was conducted to further investigate whether additional fragments of nonhuman bone could be identified and to quantify potential differences in preservation or cremation intensity between the sites. Bone fragments (n = 92) were selected from 44 cremation burials across the three sites for thin section preparation. Histological cross sections were observed to record the presence of fibrolamellar plexiform bone and secondary osteon banding, as well as to categorize the histological preservation and cremation intensity. The analysis did not identify any nonhuman remains from Wasperton or Alveston Manor, but nonhuman bone fragments were identified in the Bidford-on-Avon histology sample. These data supplement and support the findings of the macroscopic analysis that multispecies commingled cremations were only prevalent at Bidford-on-Avon. No statistically significant differences were identified in histological preservation or cremation intensity between the cemeteries. Variability in animal use in funerary rites between cemetery sites, rather than preservation bias, is therefore the likely explanation for the differential recovery of commingled nonhuman bone from excavated cremation burials. These results confirm that histomorphology is a useful tool to incorporate in the analysis of multispecies commingled cremations.

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“…In addition, it would provide additional and complementary information to that obtained through the study of different organic and inorganic materials by archaeological scientists. Through this, it is possible obtain direct information about previous populations 16,17 , historical events 18,19 , and past human and animal behaviours [20][21][22][23] .…”

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confidence: 99%

Examination of human osteoarchaeological remains as a feasible source of polar and apolar metabolites to study past conditions

Badillo-Sanchez

Ruber

Davies-Barrett

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Metabolomics is a modern tool that aids in our understanding of the molecular changes in organisms. Archaeological science is a branch of archaeology that explores different archaeological materials using modern analytical tools. Human osteoarchaeological material are a frequent finding in archaeological contexts and have the potential to offer information about previous human populations, which can be illuminating about our current condition. Using a set of samples comprising different skeletal elements and bone structures, here we explore for the first time the possibility of extracting metabolites from osteoarchaeological material. Here, a protocol for extraction and measurement of extracted polar and less-polar/apolar metabolites by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to high resolution mass spectrometry is presented to measure the molecules separated after a reversed phase and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column. Molecular information was obtained, showing that osteoarchaeological material is a viable source of molecular information for metabolomic studies.

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The Upper Paleolithic hard animal tissue under the microscope: Selected examples from Moravian sites

Cited by 4 publications

References 89 publications

Prevalence of drifting osteons distinguishes human bone

Prevalence of drifting osteons distinguishes human bone

Integrating histology in the analysis of multispecies cremations: A case study from early medieval England

Examination of human osteoarchaeological remains as a feasible source of polar and apolar metabolites to study past conditions

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