The deterioration of bone
Year: 2001
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: Bone is popularly regarded as a dry, inanimate, uncomplicated and robust material. In fact, it is a complex biological material which can undergo a variety of pre-depositional and post-depositional processes, causing physical and chemical changes which can both destroy and add to archaeological information potential. These taphonomic processes can also lead to bone being unstable when removed from the ground, or even unstable in the face of changing environmental conditions. Together these factors mean that a full understanding of bone deterioration requires an understanding of bone structure and chemistry, possible pre-depositional physical and chemical changes, and interactions with the geochemistry of the burial environment.
Author: A. R. Millard
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3210094668