Preservation assessment of archaeological animal bones using combined analytical and advanced imaging techniques

Pearce, Chloe (2024) Preservation assessment of archaeological animal bones using combined analytical and advanced imaging techniques. PhD thesis, Birkbeck, University of London.

Abstract

Archaeological bone is an important resource, providing information about our history. The 2010 national audit of the English Heritage (EH) collections indicated that the archaeological bone collection was the third most damaged archaeological material within the collection. This thesis has developed and applied a scheme for damage assessment of 32 archaeological animal long bones, collected from two EH archaeological stores. Initial assessment was completed visually; a vital part of conservation protocol that is both non-invasive and non-destructive. This was followed by extensive analysis of the sampled bones to obtain information on the organic and mineral components of bone using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Thermogravimetry (TGA). Condition assessment was completed using spectral markers from ATR-FTIR and weight loss of organic component from TGA which are used in archaeological, medicine and forensic science. Some of which have not yet been used to assess archaeological bone samples. Thermal ageing at 200 °C for varying periods provided a basis for comparison with the archaeological bones. Overall the results on the bones indicate that the animal archaeological bones within the EH collection range from relatively low to high damage in terms of preserved organic content and alterations in mineral content. The majority of change probably occurred during burial. Advanced imaging described below, indicated damage in terms of cracking post excavation, and which may have occurred during storage. This is an important observation and useful for providing recommendations for future storage. Non-invasive visual analysis of a sub-group of samples was completed using complementary neutron and X-ray tomography. The neutron tomography revealed the distribution of hydrogenous organic material throughout the bone. High-resolution X-ray tomography showed hidden physical details, such as cracking, and density of the bone. This information is otherwise inaccessible and highlights the inhomogeneity of bone and the limitations of visual assessment.

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