Ancient Nubian human bone: A chemical and ultrastructural characterization including collagen

Abstract

Human bone 14,000 years of age from the Egyptian Nubian Desert has shown ultrastructural preservation of fossilized fibers with a periodicity of 600 A. Intact Haversian systems were retained, but hydroxyproline and nitrogen contents were negligible. The fluorine content was markedly elevated. The complex chemical process of fossilization which resulted in retention of gross and micromorphology was examined and indicated the loss of organic material with probable replacement of some hydroxyapatite by amorphous and crystalline carbonates and phosphates.AM. J. PHYS. ANTHROP., 28: 157-162.157

Atomic Force Microscopy for High Resolution Imaging of Collagen Fibrils—A New Technique to Investigate Collagen Structure in Historic Bone Tissues

“…Thereby, the surface structure of bone samples could be investigated helping to discern pseudopathological from vital reactive bone formation. Similarly, collagen fibrils and their bundling pattern has been analysed (Race et al, 1968;Wyckoff & Doberenz, 1965) indicating that ''good'' collagen could be distinguished from ''poorly preserved'' collagen fibrils.…”

Bone quantity and quality in past populations

“…However, concerns for postmortem bone diagenesis must also be considered, and investigators such as Stout (1978) noted that methods like photon-absorptiometry may not be reliable due to poor bone preservation. The physical, chemical, and biological elements of the burial environment all contribute to bone diagenesis (Solomon and Haas, 1967;Race et al, 1968;Marchiafava et al, 1974;Hackett, 1981;White and Hannus, 1983;Von Endt and Ortner, 1984), and several investigators have cautioned that diagenetic effects can alter the accuracy of chemical and histological methods (Piepenbrink, 1986;Garland, 1987;Hancock et al, 1987Hancock et al, , 1989Hanson and Buikstra, 1987) and even create pseudopathological changes (Bell, 1990;Bell and Jones, 1991;Matt, 1993). Variation in the levels of bone mineralization or bone density may not be associated with vicissitudes of life but rather with postmortem circumstances that are undetectable with some experimental methods.…”

The Palaeopathology of the Vertebral Column in Ancient Egypt and Nubia

“…Wherever possible the techniques of the modem pathological laboratory should be used. Radiography, slab radiography after band saw section, microscopy and electron microscopy are all being increasingly used (Sandison, 1967 and1968;Bourke, 1967 and1971;Armelagos, 1969;Race et al, 1968).…”