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An improved method for estimating original mineral contents in excavated bone using sulfur

Biological Trace Element Research volume 52, pages 155–161 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

Trace element analysis in excavated bones is complicated by the lack of a reliable index for estimating the original amount of bone material. In this study, we subjected modern human bones to alkali treatment to simulate aging. Alkali treatment of vertebrae with attached muscle did not affect sulfur (S) content; it increased the magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn) contents, and tended to decrease iron (Fe) content of the bones. When vertebrae cleaned of muscle were used, alkali treatment did not affect S and Fe contents but increased Mg, P, Ca, and Zn contents Ca and S contents were higher in excavated bones (200–1300 yr old) than in their surrounding soils. In contrast, S, Mg, and Ca contents per dry weight did not differ between the excavated bones and the alkali-treated modern bones. These results indicate that S can provide a more accurate index of excavated bones than the often-used Ca content or dry wt measures, especially for bones excavated from calcium-rich soils.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Nara Medical University, 634, Kashihara, Nara, Japan

    Masa-oki Yamada, Masako Utsumi, Setsuko Tohno & Yoshiyuki Tohno

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kinki University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, 577, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka, Japan

    Takeshi Minami, Masayo Ichii & Yuko Okazaki

Authors
  1. Masa-oki Yamada
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  2. Takeshi Minami
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  3. Masayo Ichii
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  4. Yuko Okazaki
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  5. Masako Utsumi
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  6. Setsuko Tohno
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  7. Yoshiyuki Tohno
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Yamada, Mo., Minami, T., Ichii, M. et al. An improved method for estimating original mineral contents in excavated bone using sulfur. Biol Trace Elem Res 52, 155–161 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02789457

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02789457

Index Entries

  • Bone elements
  • bone excavation
  • paleosteology
  • anthropology