The South African early fossil hominids and John Talbot Robinson (1923–2001)

Abstract

Bone is a primary source of information in prehistoric contexts. In many cases, this type of material cannot be studied without prior cleaning, which is further conditioned by the state of preservation and deposits found on it. This experimental study applies a new method that can be used to evaluate the possible modifications that mechanical cleaning can cause on archaeological bone materials. These modifications have been objectively identified through the use of artificial crusts and statistical analyses. Microhardness testing also made it possible to consider how variability in the state of preservation of the archaeological material can influence cleaning. The study presents an initial classification of the modifications and an evaluation of the effectiveness of mechanical cleaning methods. Our conclusions advise caution in the use of these cleaning methods and support the need for further research to better evaluate cleaning processes and the modifications they can induce in archaeological bone material.