Examining histology to identify burned bone

Research potential and limitations of trace analyses of cremated remains

“…The results in our study regarding the colour, microstructure, mineral and collagen of experimentally cremated samples exposed to different temperatures largely agree with other similar and previously published results [ [5,8,10], and [46]]. However, due to the experimental design which, in contrast to earlier studies, involves all bone levels and combines these data with TGA und DSC, this study gives new insights about the relationships between different bone levels in the course of the high temperature modification process.…”

“…The curious pink colour observed in our experiment in samples exposed to temperatures above 800 8C was also found in earlier studies (e.g. [10]) and it had been reported that copper can produce such a pink colour in cremated bone (Dunlop in [5]). …”

“…[6][7][8][9][10]) and the structural changes in the mineral portion related to the degree of heat exposure (e.g. [11][12][13][14][15][16]).…”

New evidence suggests pyroclastic flows are responsible for the remarkable preservation of the Jehol biota

“…Vesuvius 34 . Similarly, these characteristics are consistent with experimental results from heating modern bones 34,39 . The asymmetrically wavy abrasive pits on bone surfaces and loss of bone debris into embedding sediments may result from heat erosion during transport in PDCs as the susceptibility of bones to fragmentation is known to significantly increase after their being heated 39 .…”

“…Similarly, these characteristics are consistent with experimental results from heating modern bones 34,39 . The asymmetrically wavy abrasive pits on bone surfaces and loss of bone debris into embedding sediments may result from heat erosion during transport in PDCs as the susceptibility of bones to fragmentation is known to significantly increase after their being heated 39 . These features suggest that the Jehol terrestrial animals were engulfed by PDCs and then charred, transported and deposited onto the lake floor, as is observed with modern day volcanic eruptions 24,33 .…”