TY - JOUR

T1 - Histological and stable isotope analysis of archeological bones from St. Rombout's cemetery (Mechelen, Belgium)

T2 - Intrasite, intraindividual, and intrabone variability

AU - Kontopoulos, Ioannis

AU - Van de Vijver, Katrien

AU - Robberechts, Bart

AU - von Tersch, Matthew

AU - Turner-Walker, Gordon

AU - Penkman, Kirsty

AU - Collins, Matthew J.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - This study compares histological preservation in archeological bones from different burial types to unravel the histotaphonomy-to-funerary practices relationship. Αn intraskeletal approach is also adopted to explore intraindividual (inner ear part of the petrous bone vs. upper/lower limb long bones) and intrabone (proximal vs. distal diaphysis) variability in bone collagen preservation, δ13C, and δ15N. The aim is to (a) target bones that likely retain higher amounts of collagen, (b) better understand the inner ear bone collagen isotopic signature and remodeling, and (c) assess intrabone isotopic and histological homogeneity. For the histological analysis, the data have been collected from 61 specimens (20 individuals) from the medieval/postmedieval cemetery of St. Rombout, Belgium. Thin sections have been studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy. For the collagen and isotopic data, 101 samples have been collected from 21 individuals. Distinct histological patterns are observed only in bones from single coffin burials; however, bone histology can display intraindividual and intrabone variability, which are important to account for interpretations. Collagen wt.%, δ13C, and δ15N show significant intraindividual differences but insignificant intrabone variability. This study also confirms the extraordinary nature of the petrous bone, as the inner ear bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values reflect the dietary input of the first approximately 2–3 years of life.

AB - This study compares histological preservation in archeological bones from different burial types to unravel the histotaphonomy-to-funerary practices relationship. Αn intraskeletal approach is also adopted to explore intraindividual (inner ear part of the petrous bone vs. upper/lower limb long bones) and intrabone (proximal vs. distal diaphysis) variability in bone collagen preservation, δ13C, and δ15N. The aim is to (a) target bones that likely retain higher amounts of collagen, (b) better understand the inner ear bone collagen isotopic signature and remodeling, and (c) assess intrabone isotopic and histological homogeneity. For the histological analysis, the data have been collected from 61 specimens (20 individuals) from the medieval/postmedieval cemetery of St. Rombout, Belgium. Thin sections have been studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy. For the collagen and isotopic data, 101 samples have been collected from 21 individuals. Distinct histological patterns are observed only in bones from single coffin burials; however, bone histology can display intraindividual and intrabone variability, which are important to account for interpretations. Collagen wt.%, δ13C, and δ15N show significant intraindividual differences but insignificant intrabone variability. This study also confirms the extraordinary nature of the petrous bone, as the inner ear bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values reflect the dietary input of the first approximately 2–3 years of life.

KW - bone

KW - collagen

KW - histotaphonomy

KW - intrabone

KW - intraindividual

KW - petrous bone

KW - stable isotopes

U2 - 10.1002/oa.3145

DO - 10.1002/oa.3145

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85135270625

VL - 32

SP - 1142

EP - 1156

JO - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

JF - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

SN - 1047-482X

IS - 5

ER -