Chapter 3 Investigation of diagenetic and postmortem bone mineral change by small-angle X-ray scattering

Abstract

Abstract Alteration to bone in the burial environment is inevitable, and affects many aspects of archaeological scientific investigation. The mineral component of bone contributes to its postmortem longevity, and may be a resource for study in its own right. Here we review recent work in our laboratory, in which we have established the use of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to detect alteration to bone crystallites in the postmortem and depositional environments. We have had success linking diagenetic crystallite change to the preservation of ancient biomolecules. Moreover, we have developed microfocus mapping techniques to track alteration in bone thin sections across microscale areas such as individual osteons. Finally, we describe our use of SAXS to measure alteration to bone mineral in experimental heating regimes designed to mimic burning or cremation. These results are an indication of the potential for SAXS to elucidate postmortem and diagenetic alteration to bone mineral, which is a valuable resource for archaeological science.