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Rosa J, Batista de Carvalho LAE, Gil FPSC, Marques MPM, Ferreira MT, Gonçalves D. The effects of exogenous substances on the color of heated bones. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024:e24905. [PMID: 38291805 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Burned bone coloration has been used for decades to help in the bioanthropological analysis of burned human bones. However, there is a variety of factors that can interfere with the coloration manifested by bones exposed to heat, resulting in colors that differ from the usual black to white gradient. In this study, we evaluated possible causes of unusual coloration changes and hues in burned bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS For that purpose, defleshed fresh pig (Sus scrofa) ribs as well as fresh and dry human clavicles were burned at four different temperatures (500, 700, 900 and 1100°C) in contact with different materials (CaO, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, and polyester cloth). Observable color changes were assessed through naked eye observation and description, Munsell color charts, and reflectance spectrophotometry. Additionally, chemical changes in bone were assessed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF). RESULTS Our results showed that some materials did affect usual burned bone coloration (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) and correspondent FTIR-ATR and XRF spectra. As for other materials, although no effect on visual bone coloration was observed, they still affected FTIR-ATR and XRF spectra (CaO and cloth). DISCUSSION This study can contribute to the anthropological analysis of burned human remains, providing some answers to what can cause unusual types of heat-induced colorations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Rosa
- Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Calçada Martim de Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Calçada Martim de Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Francisco P S C Gil
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Physics, Centre for Physics of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Paula M Marques
- Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Physical-Chemistry R&D Unit, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Teresa Ferreira
- Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Calçada Martim de Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Calçada Martim de Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - David Gonçalves
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Calçada Martim de Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Calçada Martim de Freitas, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Laboratory of Archaeosciences (LARC/CIBIO/InBIO), Direção-Geral do Património Cultural, Calçada do Mirante à Ajuda n°10A, Lisboa, Portugal
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