A Look from the Inside: MicroCT Analysis of Burned Bones

  • Francesco Boschin Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente, UR Preistoria e Antropologia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena. CeSQ, Centro Studi sul Quaternario ONLUS. Via Nuova dell'Ammazzatoio 7, I - 52037 Sansepolcro (Arezzo), Italy.
  • Clément Zanolli Multidisciplinary Laboratory, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy. Strada Costiera 11, 34014 Trieste.
  • Federico bernardini Multidisciplinary Laboratory, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy. Strada Costiera 11, 34014 Trieste. Centro Fermi, Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro di Studi e Ricerche "Enrico Fermi", Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Roma.
  • Francesco Princivalle Università degli Studi di Trieste, Dipartimento di Matematica e Geoscienze. Via Weiss 8, 34127 Trieste.
  • Claudio Tuniz Multidisciplinary Laboratory, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy. Strada Costiera 11, 34014 Trieste. Centro Fermi, Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro di Studi e Ricerche "Enrico Fermi", Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Roma.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14237/ebl.6.2.2015.365
Keywords: MicroCT imaging, Burned bones, Taphonomy, Zooarchaeology

Abstract

MicroCT imaging is increasingly used in paleoanthropological and zooarchaeological research to analyse the internal microstructure of bone, replacing comparatively invasive and destructive methods. Consequently the analytical potential of this relatively new 3D imaging technology can be enhanced by developing discipline specific protocols for archaeological analysis. Here we examine how the microstructure of mammal bone changes after burning and explore if X-ray computed microtomography (microCT) can be used to obtain reliable information from burned specimens. We subjected domestic pig, roe deer, and red fox bones to burning at different temperatures and for different periods using an oven and an open fire. We observed significant changes in the three-dimensional microstructure of trabecular bone, suggesting that biomechanical studies or other analyses (for instance, determination of age-at-death) can be compromised by burning. In addition, bone subjected to very high temperatures (600°C or more) became cracked, posing challenges for quantifying characteristics of bone microstructure. Specimens burned at 600°C or greater temperatures, exhibit a characteristic criss-cross cracking pattern concentrated in the cortical region of the epiphyses. This feature, which can be readily observed on the surface of whole bone, could help the identification of heavily burned specimens that are small fragments, where color and surface texture are altered by diagenesis or weathering.

Author Biographies

Francesco Boschin, Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente, UR Preistoria e Antropologia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena. CeSQ, Centro Studi sul Quaternario ONLUS. Via Nuova dell'Ammazzatoio 7, I - 52037 Sansepolcro (Arezzo), Italy.

Francesco Boschin is collaborating with the University of Siena (Italy) carrying out zooarchaeological research and taphonomic studies on Pleistocene and Holocene faunal assemblages in Italy. In the last years he developed new applications of 3D microscopy and MicroCT imaging on faunal remains.

Clément Zanolli, Multidisciplinary Laboratory, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy. Strada Costiera 11, 34014 Trieste.

Clément Zanolli is carrying out several palaeoanthropological studies focusing his interest in the application of MicroCT imaging in the analysis of primates skeletal remains.

Federico bernardini, Multidisciplinary Laboratory, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy. Strada Costiera 11, 34014 Trieste. Centro Fermi, Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro di Studi e Ricerche "Enrico Fermi", Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Roma.
Federico Bernardini is an archaeologist that focused his research in archaeometry. He is working at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Teorethical Phisics of Trieste (Italy) and is developing new protocols for the application of Microtomography in the study of cultural heritage.
Francesco Princivalle, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Dipartimento di Matematica e Geoscienze. Via Weiss 8, 34127 Trieste.
Francesco Princivalle is full Professor at the University of Trieste. He focused most of his research in mineralogy but he also collaborates with archaeologists in archaeometric studies. 
Claudio Tuniz, Multidisciplinary Laboratory, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy. Strada Costiera 11, 34014 Trieste. Centro Fermi, Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro di Studi e Ricerche "Enrico Fermi", Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Roma.
Claudio Tuniz is Scientific consultant of the ICTP (the “Abdus Salam” International Centre for Theoretical Physics of Trieste, Italy) and the coordinator of the X-ray Microanalysis for Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology Project, at the ICTP Multidisciplinary Laboratory.

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Ethnobiology Letters Cover, Volume 6, Issue 2, 2015
Published
2015-12-18
How to Cite
Boschin, F., Zanolli, C., bernardini, F., Princivalle, F., & Tuniz, C. (2015). A Look from the Inside: MicroCT Analysis of Burned Bones. Ethnobiology Letters, 6(2), 258-266. https://doi.org/10.14237/ebl.6.2.2015.365
Issue
Vol 6 No 2 (2015)
Section
Research Communications

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