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Comparing rates of recrystallisation and the potential preservation of biomolecules from the distribution of trace elements in fossil bones

Comparing rates of recrystallisation and the potential preservation of biomolecules from the distribution of trace elements in fossil bones
Comparing rates of recrystallisation and the potential preservation of biomolecules from the distribution of trace elements in fossil bones
Preservation of intact macromolecules and geochemical signals in fossil bones is mainly controlled by the extent of post-mortem interaction between bones and sediment pore waters. Trace elements such as lanthanum are added to bone post-mortem from pore waters, and where uptake occurs via a simple process of diffusion and adsorption, the elemental distribution can be used to assess the relative extent of bone-pore water interaction and rate of recrystallisation. Distribution profiles can be parameterised effectively using simple exponential equations, and the extent of bone–water interaction compared within and between sites. In this study, the distribution of lanthanum within bone was determined by laser ablation ICP–MS in 60 archaeological and fossil bones from Pleistocene and Cretaceous sites. The rates of recrystallisation and potential for preservation of intact biogeochemical signals vary significantly within and between sites. Elemental profiles within fossil bones hold promise as a screening technique to prospect for intact biomolecules and as a taphonomic tool.
1631-0683
145-158
Trueman, Clive N.
d00d3bd6-a47b-4d47-89ae-841c3d506205
Palmer, Martin R.
d2e60e81-5d6e-4ddb-a243-602537286080
Field, Judith
574a1ce2-7f09-4b7b-b7b0-1cbe72c0ac17
Privat, Karen
aef475fd-9ea1-4000-95a3-90bf09940b0c
Ludgate, Natalie
adb8f768-e5da-4251-af21-e782cd75d842
Chavagnac, Valerie
2beb897f-660c-4a91-a57e-16a05a638dc8
Eberth, David A.
6974cfe0-39e1-454b-8083-4ea562804a52
Cifelli, Richard
e015aac4-66a2-46cf-81dd-ea04204c50a5
Rogers, Raymond R.
a3e4bf30-b4cd-4a32-a959-f2414e37fe73
Trueman, Clive N.
d00d3bd6-a47b-4d47-89ae-841c3d506205
Palmer, Martin R.
d2e60e81-5d6e-4ddb-a243-602537286080
Field, Judith
574a1ce2-7f09-4b7b-b7b0-1cbe72c0ac17
Privat, Karen
aef475fd-9ea1-4000-95a3-90bf09940b0c
Ludgate, Natalie
adb8f768-e5da-4251-af21-e782cd75d842
Chavagnac, Valerie
2beb897f-660c-4a91-a57e-16a05a638dc8
Eberth, David A.
6974cfe0-39e1-454b-8083-4ea562804a52
Cifelli, Richard
e015aac4-66a2-46cf-81dd-ea04204c50a5
Rogers, Raymond R.
a3e4bf30-b4cd-4a32-a959-f2414e37fe73

Trueman, Clive N., Palmer, Martin R., Field, Judith, Privat, Karen, Ludgate, Natalie, Chavagnac, Valerie, Eberth, David A., Cifelli, Richard and Rogers, Raymond R. (2008) Comparing rates of recrystallisation and the potential preservation of biomolecules from the distribution of trace elements in fossil bones. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 7 (2-3), 145-158. (doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2008.02.006).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Preservation of intact macromolecules and geochemical signals in fossil bones is mainly controlled by the extent of post-mortem interaction between bones and sediment pore waters. Trace elements such as lanthanum are added to bone post-mortem from pore waters, and where uptake occurs via a simple process of diffusion and adsorption, the elemental distribution can be used to assess the relative extent of bone-pore water interaction and rate of recrystallisation. Distribution profiles can be parameterised effectively using simple exponential equations, and the extent of bone–water interaction compared within and between sites. In this study, the distribution of lanthanum within bone was determined by laser ablation ICP–MS in 60 archaeological and fossil bones from Pleistocene and Cretaceous sites. The rates of recrystallisation and potential for preservation of intact biogeochemical signals vary significantly within and between sites. Elemental profiles within fossil bones hold promise as a screening technique to prospect for intact biomolecules and as a taphonomic tool.

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Published date: April 2008

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 42346
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/42346
ISSN: 1631-0683
PURE UUID: f5a8f4ad-fc5e-4cda-a33a-7d3c30f2bef0
ORCID for Clive N. Trueman: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4995-736X

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Date deposited: 09 Jun 2008
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:35

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Contributors

Author: Judith Field
Author: Karen Privat
Author: Natalie Ludgate
Author: Valerie Chavagnac
Author: David A. Eberth
Author: Richard Cifelli
Author: Raymond R. Rogers

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