Experimental Study of White Heat Line Formation in Burned Bone Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

In anthropological analysis of burned bone, the presence of a white heat line (WHL) aids in determining a bone’s physical condition prior to burning, distinguishing between those burned fleshed or wet versus dry, making this thermal signature an important source of information regarding the relative timing of burning. While the relationship between WHLs and a bone’s physical condition has been studied, there is a lack of research concerning WHL chemical composition. The present study assessed the composition of WHLs that form on burned bone using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), including the effects of soft tissue and retention of bone’s organic material on a WHL’s development and appearance. Experimental remains consisted of isolated bones from pig (Sus scrofa), sheep (Ovis aries), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and elk (Cervus elaphus) in five physical conditions: fleshed, defleshed/very wet, partially wet, dry, and dry/soaked. Chemical composition was analyzed using spectral peak heights of the carbonate (CO3) ν3 (1415 cm-1), phosphate (PO4) ν3 (1035 cm-1), and amide I (1660 cm-1) vibrational bands. WHLs formed on 8 of 16 bones burned fleshed (50%) compared to 8 of 27 defleshed/very wet (29.6%). The partially wet, dry, and dry/soaked sample groups did not develop a WHL. Results indicate WHLs that formed on fleshed bone contained an increased amount of CO3, PO4, and amide I versus unburned controls. In contrast, WHLs that formed on defleshed/very wet bone contained decreased amounts. Additional research is needed to explore the exact mechanisms causing the formation of WHLs and their physical appearance.

THE CORE OF WAJO CONFEDERATION: ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN TOSORA, CINNOTABI AND LAMASEWANUA

“The beginning of Wajo's establishment began with the migration of people from various places to open rice fields and build settlements to the east of Lake Tempe. The settlements were then transformed into political units which formed a 'state' under the rule of a nobleman based in Cinnotabi. Several political agreements underlie the formation of a confederation of three domains. Regime change resulted in the transfer of the center of government. Lontara Wajo and the oral tradition mention some toponyms but do not explain in detail where the core of the Wajo confederation lies. This research is aimed at determining the location and character of the toponym by conducting field surveys in places that are suspected of being associated with the existence of the pre-Islamic capital of Wajo. Using an archaeological approach and supported by information from textual sources. Surveys in the villages of Tosora, Cinnongtabi and Tajo in Majauleng District have identified the existence of the old capitals around Wajo-wajo, Boli, Leppadeppa, Attunuang, and other sites based on archeological traces such as menhirs, burned bone fragments, pottery and ceramics shards and other artifacts. Identification of imported ceramic fragments from China, Thailand, Vietnam, these sites might be dated between the 14th and 17th centuries. Taking into account the concentration of artefacts and relations between sites, it can be concluded that Tosora was the capital from the end of the 16th century and until the arrival of Islam at the beginning of the 17th century, while the capital of the early period of Wajo hypothetically was dated between the beginning of the 15th century and the end of the 16th century was around the confluence of Wajo-wajoe river which flows into Latamperu and Penrange lake which then empties into Cellue river before ending at the Cenrana mainstream”

Human bone probed by neutron diffraction: the burning process

The first neutron diffraction study of human burned bone – for understanding heat-induced changes, relevant for archaeology, biomaterials and forensic science.

The Implications of Thermogenic Modification for Anthropological Recovery of Burned Bone

<p class="p1">Burn trauma is prevalent in both archaeological and forensic records. It causes thermogenic modifications that have implications for the discipline of anthropology. Anthropologists and medical professionals are frequently the experts called to address burn trauma cases, often in the role of forensic anthropologists. This project seeks to discuss the processes of burn trauma and the resulting changes, as well as how the professionals in the fields of archaeology, anthropology, and medicine are discussing the recovery and analysis of burned human remains. An experiment is used to demonstrate these changes and compare them to those documented by experts in the field. A literature review discusses the processes of burn trauma and the resulting thermogenic modifications that are seen in the scholarly literature on the topic. The author makes recommendations for future research, namely the inclusion of weight in the recorded factors during experimentation and continued research into the recovery of burned remains. The author argues that the bioarchaeological approach of forensic anthropology benefits from the combined experience of archaeologists, biological anthropologists, and medical experts who have a background in osteology and biomechanics.</p>

Dating Gods: Radiocarbon Dates from the Sanctuary of Zeus on Mt. Lykaion (Arcadia, Greece)

This paper reports the results of the application of a calcined bone dating protocol to samples collected from the Sanctuary of Zeus on Mt. Lykaion in southern Greece. The site is a mountaintop ash altar rich in anthropogenic sediments, burned bone, and artifacts offered to the god Zeus. Experiments involving time series hydrolysis measurements were conducted on calcined bones from stratified layers throughout the sequence to determine if any of the samples underwent surface contamination from carbonate exchange with the surrounding sedimentary matrix. It was determined that such exchange was unlikely, but samples were acid-etched before pretreatment as a precautionary measure. Paired samples of seeds, charcoal, and calcined animal bone collected from a sediment column in the altar demonstrate the effectiveness of the calcined bone dating technique in this context. The results of dating indicate that the altar was in use from the Mycenaean period through the late Classical period, though samples were not collected from the upper levels of the site due to possible mixing of surface sediments. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements were taken and crystallinity index values calculated, confirming that the bone samples are indeed calcined. The results presented here correspond with literary accounts of ritual animal sacrifice from historical texts from the 8th century BCE, including the Homeric epics.