Profiling of human burned bones: oxidising versus reducing conditions

Complementary optical and neutron-based vibrational spectroscopy techniques (Infrared, Raman and inelastic neutron scattering) were applied to the study of human bones (femur and humerus) burned simultaneously under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions, in a wide range of temperatures (400 to 1000 degrees C). This is the first INS study of human skeletal remains heated in an oxygen-deprived atmosphere. Clear differences were observed between both types of samples, namely the absence of hydroxyapatite's OH vibrational bands in bone burned anaerobically (in unsealed containers), coupled to the presence of cyanamide (NCNH2) and portlandite (Ca(OH)(2)) in these reductive conditions. These results are expected to allow a better understanding of the heat effect on bone ' s constituents in distinct environmental settings, thus contributing for an accurate characterisation of both forensic and archaeological human skeletal remains found in distinct scenarios regarding oxygen availability.

Automated summary

The study used complementary optical and neutron-based vibrational spectroscopy techniques to investigate human bones burned under different oxygen conditions. Significant differences were observed between bones burned aerobically and anaerobically, providing valuable insights for a better understanding of bone constituents in various environmental settings.