Journal
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Volume 38, Issue 12, Pages 3387-3393Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2011.07.024
Keywords
Stable isotopes; Bone; Collagen; Hydroxyapatite; Polyvinyl acetate; PVAc
Funding
- Smithsonian Institution
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The stable isotopic analysis of archaeological and paleontological bones has become a common method to examine questions of ecology, climate, and physiology. As researchers addressing such questions incorporate museum collections in their studies, it is necessary to understand the isotopic effects of common preservation techniques utilized in such collections to ensure the preservation of original isotopic values. This study examines the effects of PVAc glue (polyvinyl acetate) applied in acetone solution and the subsequent removal of PVAc using various organic solvents on the delta C-13 and delta N-15 values of extracted bone collagen, the delta C-13 and delta O-18 values of carbonate in bone hydroxyapatite, and the delta O-18 values of phosphate in hydroxyapatite. The data demonstrate that isotopic values in the collagen and phosphate are unaffected by any combination of PVAc treatment and solvent application. The carbonates show little variation in delta C-13 values, but exhibit variable delta O-18 values upon exposure to the PVAc solution. It is here suggested that delta O-18 values from carbonates in PVAc-treated bones do not retain an original isotopic value and should not be included in future studies. Published by Elsevier
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available