The preservation of invertebrates in 16th century cesspits at St Saviourgate, York

L M E McCobb; D E G Briggs; A R Hall; H K Kenward

The preservation of invertebrates in 16th century cesspits at St Saviourgate, York

L M E McCobb, D E G Briggs, A R Hall, H K Kenward

Archaeology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The taphonomy of invertebrates from 16th-century cesspits at St Saviourgate, York, was investigated. Earthworms, fly larvae and puparia are preserved through replication in calcium phosphate, a process facilitated by acidic cesspit pore water and by the presence of abundant organic matter, bones and shells. Features preserved by mineralization include muscles, blood vessels and setae. Non-mineralized invertebrate remains include puparia and beetles. Py-GC/MS (flash pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) revealed a very high level of preservation of structural biomolecules, with all the protein and chitin markers that are evident in the living forms still being detectable in the divalent remains.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	157-169
Number of pages	13
Journal	Archaeometry
Volume	46
Publication status	Published - Feb 2004

Keywords

taphonomy
cesspits
post-medieval
York
mineralization
insects
woodlice
earthworms
PY-GC/MS
SEM
CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY
PYROLYSIS-GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
MEDIEVAL BRITAIN
PUBIC LICE
DECAY
MINERALIZATION
CUTICLES
DEPOSITS
CHITIN
ROMAN

Cite this

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title = "The preservation of invertebrates in 16th century cesspits at St Saviourgate, York",

abstract = "The taphonomy of invertebrates from 16th-century cesspits at St Saviourgate, York, was investigated. Earthworms, fly larvae and puparia are preserved through replication in calcium phosphate, a process facilitated by acidic cesspit pore water and by the presence of abundant organic matter, bones and shells. Features preserved by mineralization include muscles, blood vessels and setae. Non-mineralized invertebrate remains include puparia and beetles. Py-GC/MS (flash pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) revealed a very high level of preservation of structural biomolecules, with all the protein and chitin markers that are evident in the living forms still being detectable in the divalent remains.",

keywords = "taphonomy, cesspits, post-medieval, York, mineralization, insects, woodlice, earthworms, PY-GC/MS, SEM, CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY, PYROLYSIS-GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY, MEDIEVAL BRITAIN, PUBIC LICE, DECAY, MINERALIZATION, CUTICLES, DEPOSITS, CHITIN, ROMAN",

author = "McCobb, {L M E} and Briggs, {D E G} and Hall, {A R} and Kenward, {H K}",

year = "2004",

month = feb,

language = "English",

volume = "46",

pages = "157--169",

journal = "Archaeometry",

issn = "0003-813X",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The preservation of invertebrates in 16th century cesspits at St Saviourgate, York

AU - McCobb, L M E

AU - Briggs, D E G

AU - Hall, A R

AU - Kenward, H K

PY - 2004/2

Y1 - 2004/2

N2 - The taphonomy of invertebrates from 16th-century cesspits at St Saviourgate, York, was investigated. Earthworms, fly larvae and puparia are preserved through replication in calcium phosphate, a process facilitated by acidic cesspit pore water and by the presence of abundant organic matter, bones and shells. Features preserved by mineralization include muscles, blood vessels and setae. Non-mineralized invertebrate remains include puparia and beetles. Py-GC/MS (flash pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) revealed a very high level of preservation of structural biomolecules, with all the protein and chitin markers that are evident in the living forms still being detectable in the divalent remains.

AB - The taphonomy of invertebrates from 16th-century cesspits at St Saviourgate, York, was investigated. Earthworms, fly larvae and puparia are preserved through replication in calcium phosphate, a process facilitated by acidic cesspit pore water and by the presence of abundant organic matter, bones and shells. Features preserved by mineralization include muscles, blood vessels and setae. Non-mineralized invertebrate remains include puparia and beetles. Py-GC/MS (flash pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) revealed a very high level of preservation of structural biomolecules, with all the protein and chitin markers that are evident in the living forms still being detectable in the divalent remains.

KW - taphonomy

KW - cesspits

KW - post-medieval

KW - York

KW - mineralization

KW - insects

KW - woodlice

KW - earthworms

KW - PY-GC/MS

KW - SEM

KW - CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY

KW - PYROLYSIS-GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

KW - MEDIEVAL BRITAIN

KW - PUBIC LICE

KW - DECAY

KW - MINERALIZATION

KW - CUTICLES

KW - DEPOSITS

KW - CHITIN

KW - ROMAN

M3 - Article

SN - 0003-813X

VL - 46

SP - 157

EP - 169

JO - Archaeometry

JF - Archaeometry

ER -