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Patterns of chemical change during bone fossilization

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Abstract

The uptake of elements by bone during fossilization is a well-recognized phenomenon but the nature of, and the factors leading to, chemical heterogeneity in fossil bone are only just starting to be elucidated. Indeed, in the recent past the assumption that fossil bone is chemically homogeneous has been commonly used in several investigations including those of bone dating and dietary studies. In an attempt to understand the processes of element uptake we have investigated some chemical heterogeneities in a fossil bone and have assessed the potential use of bone composition as an indicator of the trace element contents of associated groundwater. Our study extends other work1,2 by giving the first analysis of rare earth element (REE) distribution in a fossil bone and by showing that information on the redox state and REE abundance pattern of the groundwater can be obtained. The results contribute to the interpretation of bone analyses in studies on provenance and age determination as well as in the diet and health of past populations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mineralogy, British Museum (Natural History), London, SW7 5BD, UK

    P. Henderson & C. T. Williams

  2. Department of Applied Biology and Food Science, Polytechnic of the South Bank, Borough Road, London, SE1 OAA, UK

    C. A. Marlow

  3. Department of Palaeontology, British Museum (Natural History), London, SW7 5BD, UK

    T. I. Molleson

Authors
  1. P. Henderson
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  2. C. A. Marlow
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  3. T. I. Molleson
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  4. C. T. Williams
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Henderson, P., Marlow, C., Molleson, T. et al. Patterns of chemical change during bone fossilization. Nature 306, 358–360 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/306358a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/306358a0

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