Estimating age at death from an archaeological bone sample – a preliminary study based on comparison of histomorphometric methods

Abstract

The estimation of age at death is one of the most fundamental biological parameters, determined on skeletal remains in anthropological context. That is why, there is a constant need to improve applied methods. Histomorphometry, which uses microscopic analysis of bone tissue is suggested to be one alternative method. In general, this technique is based on measurements and the determination of the number and density of basic bone structural units, osteons. Osteon density is found to be related with age of the individual. The main goal of this research was to compare results of determined age at death, on the basis of ribs histology, comes from methods proposed by different authors. We analyzed ground cross sections of ribs from archeological origin. The presented methodology is simple in use and effective. Four different methods were tested (Stout and Paine 1992;Cho et al. 2002;Kim et al. 2007;Bednarek et al. 2009). The obtained age results were compared with each other as well as related to the age estimated by standard macroscopic method used in anthropology. Bednarek's method is recognized to be the most supportive for anthropological analyzes. Methodological issues connected with grinding methodology and results interpretation are also presented. Hypothesis about interpopulation as well as histological and dimorphic differences were confirmed.

A case of syphilis with high bone arsenic concentration from early modern cemetery (Wroclaw, Poland)

“…Histological assessment (suggesting similar age) was based on relatively high amount of fragments of remodeled osteons and low amount of non-osteal vascularization Numerous interstitial lamellae, as the remains of earlier generations of lamellae postponed from the periosteal and endosteal side and osteons in the middle part of the frontal bone were detected. They confirmed the observation that the skull belonged to an older adult [ 47 ]. More accurate assessment of age was impossible, as the postcranial skeleton was missing.…”

Role of stable isotope analyses in reconstructing past life-histories and the provenancing human skeletal remains: a review

“…The use of life tables from skeletal series has been widely and justifiably criticised (Woods 1992) so some alternate methods like stable isotope analyses or histomorphometric methods have been suggested to correlate the age-at-death estimates demographic processes in ancient individuals. Histomorphometry is a technique based on measurements and determination of number and density of basic bone structural units (osteons) and it is considered as a useful complementary method for age at death estimation (Mnich et al 2017). …”