Geochemical criteria for thermal alteration of bone

In bones not influenced by other diagenetic effects, heating events can be reflected in changes in the relative concentrations of constituent amino acids that alter the collagen-like pattern in bone to a non-collagen-like pattern with an increase in the relative NH, levels. The ratio of glycine (Gly...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological science 1995, Vol.22 (1), p.115-119
Main Authors: Taylor, R.E., Hare, P.E., White, T.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Ammonia
Biogeochemistry
Bone
Collagen
Diagenesis
Excavation and methods
Fire
Geochemistry
Glutamic acid
Glycine
Heating
Laboratory methods
Methodology and general studies
Physical and chemical analysis
Prehistory and protohistory
ThermalEffects
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Summary:In bones not influenced by other diagenetic effects, heating events can be reflected in changes in the relative concentrations of constituent amino acids that alter the collagen-like pattern in bone to a non-collagen-like pattern with an increase in the relative NH, levels. The ratio of glycine (Gly) to glutamic acid (Glu) can be used as an index of a collagen-like or non-collagen-like pattern. For a group of eight bone samples from a southwestern United States Pueblo II period Anasazi site dated to about ad 1100, amino acid composition, as characterized by Gly/Glu values, along with NH 3 data, clearly indicated which bone fragments had been subjected to one or more heating events. The use of Gly/Glu and NH, values for the purpose of inferring heating events may not be accurate for bones which have experienced other significant diagenetic effects not related to heating.
ISSN:0305-4403
1095-9238
DOI:10.1016/S0305-4403(95)80169-3