Apatite for destruction: investigating bone degradation due to high acidity at Star Carr

High, Kirsty Elizabeth; Milner, Nicky; Panter, Ian; Penkman, Kirsty

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2015.04.001

Cited by 30 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…We do not know of any other reports of this definitive transformation in buried bone; we hypothesize that in hydrated zones HA dissolution occurs, followed by recrystallization, incorporating sulfur from the sediments to form gypsum. Incorporation of sulfur also explains the observed mass increase and is consistent with our previous experiments carried out in sulfuric acid only (18). In contrast, the bone mineral appeared unaltered (compared with the starting material) for the samples from microcosms A and B (Fig.…”

Section: Rapid Loss Of Hydroxyapatite Under Conditions Equivalent To supporting

confidence: 91%

“…Although previous experiments in acid alone had shown that HA deteriorates rapidly at low pH (18), our extending the study into a more realistic representation of the burial environment at Star Carr has provided critical evidence that both bone and wood are at immediate risk at the site. Specifically, we have shown that the soil-water content is a major influence in the rapidity at which organic material is lost, consolidating a number of field-based studies (4,33).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…The reported drying out of the sediments (14) is likely to result in increased fungal and microbial activity, possibly resulting in the unmitigated loss of any remaining archaeological bone. Furthermore, laboratory-based and field experiments have shown that a fluctuating water table in the layer bearing archaeological samples is more detrimental than a stagnant environment (4,18). Star Carr has served as an excellent case study, with the rapidity of the geochemical changes allowing the site to be studied on a research-project time scale.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Material was selected to enable direct comparison both with material excavated from the Star Carr site and with materials used in previously reported laboratory-based experiments in acid (Table S1) (18,19). This material consisted of archaeological and modern wood, archaeological and modern bone, and modern sheep bone that had been demineralized by treatment in hydrochloric acid [to be comparable to the jellybones excavated from Star Carr (11)].…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, robust data linking these environmental changes with the striking organic deterioration witnessed within 30 y at Star Carr were severely lacking (11), making an informed decision on the appropriate management of the site impossible. Focusing on the effects of site acidity on the macroscopic and archaeological remains, we undertook laboratory-based experiments to investigate the behavior of bone (18) and wood (19) in high concentrations of sulfuric acid. Results indicated that acidification is a major factor leading to the demineralization of bone and cellulose depletion in wood (Fig.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lessons from Star Carr on the vulnerability of organic archaeological remains to environmental change

High

Milner

Panter

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Examples of wetland deposits can be found across the globe and are known for preserving organic archaeological and environmental remains that are vitally important to our understanding of past human-environment interactions. The Mesolithic site of Star Carr (Yorkshire, United Kingdom) represents one of the most influential archives of human response to the changing climate at the end of the last glacial in Northern Europe. A hallmark of the site since its discovery in 1948 has been the exceptional preservation of its organic remains. Disturbingly, recent excavations have suggested that the geochemistry of the site is no longer conducive to such remarkable survival of organic archaeological and environmental materials. Microcosm (laboratory-based) burial experiments have been undertaken, alongside analysis of artifacts excavated from the site, to assess the effect of these geochemical changes on the remaining archaeological material. By applying a suite of macroscopic and molecular analyses, we demonstrate that the geochemical changes at Star Carr are contributing to the inexorable and rapid loss of valuable archaeological and paleoenvironmental information. Our findings have global implications for other wetland sites, particularly archaeological sites preserved in situ.organic artifacts | geochemistry | environmental change | analytical chemistry | wetland archaeology

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Section: Rapid Loss Of Hydroxyapatite Under Conditions Equivalent To supporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Lessons from Star Carr on the vulnerability of organic archaeological remains to environmental change

High

Milner

Panter

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Conservation of Bone, Horn, and Ivory

O'Connor

2018

The Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences

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The conservation of bone, horn, and ivory begins with understanding how these materials degrade in a range of burial environments and knowing the other factors that can affect preservation. As biocomposites, these tissues have particularly complex degradation pathways. Conservation begins from the moment of excavation, protecting, supporting, and inhibiting dimensional changes and biodegradation. Keratinous tissues may only be present in the form of mineral preserved organics (MPOs). Good external support of friable objects is the preferred strategy, rather than consolidation prior to lifting. The key to long‐term passive conservation is stability of curation conditions.

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The same or different? Experimenting with the influence of peat environment on use‐wear traces on antler tools

Orłowska

2017

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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Postdeposition issues are one of the most important factors that must be considered during study of all archaeological osseous artefacts, especially if our analysis involves technological or use‐wear traces. In order to better understand the possible changes on the worked, polished surfaces of antler tools resulting from the latter being deposited in peat environment, an experiment was conducted, in which experimentally made antler tools were deposited inside a container with humid peat for a period of 3 months. The results of the study provide numerous interesting observations and information on the state of preservation of various kinds of wear traces and emphasise the need for further in‐depth research in this regard.

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Apatite for destruction: investigating bone degradation due to high acidity at Star Carr

Cited by 30 publications

References 33 publications

Lessons from Star Carr on the vulnerability of organic archaeological remains to environmental change

Lessons from Star Carr on the vulnerability of organic archaeological remains to environmental change

Conservation of Bone, Horn, and Ivory

The same or different? Experimenting with the influence of peat environment on use‐wear traces on antler tools

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