TY - JOUR
T1 - Histological and stable isotope analysis of archaeological bones from St. Rombout’s cemetery (Mechelen, Belgium)
T2 - intra-site, intra-individual, and intra-bone variability
AU - Kontopoulos, Ioannis
AU - Van de Vijver, Katrien
AU - Robberechts, Bart
AU - von Tersch, Matthew
AU - Turner-Walker, Gordon
AU - Penkman, Kirsty
AU - Collins, Matthew J.
N1 - © 2022 The Authors.
PY - 2022/10/19
Y1 - 2022/10/19
N2 - This study compares histological preservation in archeological bones from different burial types to unravel the histotaphonomy-to-funerary practices relationship. Αn intraskeletal approach is also adopted to explore intraindividual (inner ear part of the petrous bone vs. upper/lower limb long bones) and intrabone (proximal vs. distal diaphysis) variability in bone collagen preservation, δ13C, and δ15N. The aim is to (a) target bones that likely retain higher amounts of collagen, (b) better understand the inner ear bone collagen isotopic signature and remodeling, and (c) assess intrabone isotopic and histological homogeneity. For the histological analysis, the data have been collected from 61 specimens (20 individuals) from the medieval/postmedieval cemetery of St. Rombout, Belgium. Thin sections have been studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy. For the collagen and isotopic data, 101 samples have been collected from 21 individuals. Distinct histological patterns are observed only in bones from single coffin burials; however, bone histology can display intraindividual and intrabone variability, which are important to account for interpretations. Collagen wt.%, δ13C, and δ15N show significant intraindividual differences but insignificant intrabone variability. This study also confirms the extraordinary nature of the petrous bone, as the inner ear bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values reflect the dietary input of the first approximately 2–3 years of life.
AB - This study compares histological preservation in archeological bones from different burial types to unravel the histotaphonomy-to-funerary practices relationship. Αn intraskeletal approach is also adopted to explore intraindividual (inner ear part of the petrous bone vs. upper/lower limb long bones) and intrabone (proximal vs. distal diaphysis) variability in bone collagen preservation, δ13C, and δ15N. The aim is to (a) target bones that likely retain higher amounts of collagen, (b) better understand the inner ear bone collagen isotopic signature and remodeling, and (c) assess intrabone isotopic and histological homogeneity. For the histological analysis, the data have been collected from 61 specimens (20 individuals) from the medieval/postmedieval cemetery of St. Rombout, Belgium. Thin sections have been studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy. For the collagen and isotopic data, 101 samples have been collected from 21 individuals. Distinct histological patterns are observed only in bones from single coffin burials; however, bone histology can display intraindividual and intrabone variability, which are important to account for interpretations. Collagen wt.%, δ13C, and δ15N show significant intraindividual differences but insignificant intrabone variability. This study also confirms the extraordinary nature of the petrous bone, as the inner ear bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values reflect the dietary input of the first approximately 2–3 years of life.
KW - bone
KW - collagen
KW - histotaphonomy
KW - intrabone
KW - intraindividual
KW - petrous bone
KW - stable isotopes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135270625&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/oa.3145
DO - 10.1002/oa.3145
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85135270625
SN - 1047-482X
VL - 32
JO - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
JF - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
IS - 5
ER -