Experimental investigation of histotaphonomic changes in human bone from whole-body donors demonstrates limited effects of early post-mortem change in bone

In recent years histological analysis has become widely used for reconstructing mortuary treatment in archaeological contexts. Interpretations rely on the degree and nature of microstructural taphonomic changes, particularly bacterial attack, but there is considerable disagreement on how these changes should be interpreted. Some researchers believe the origin of bacteria to be endogenous (i.e. from the gut) and others consider it to be exogenous (i.e. from the soil), with the two scenarios pursuing different interpretative pathways. In addition, the timing and duration of bacterial attack and other microscopic modifications is poorly understood. A paucity of experimental research, especially on whole-body human cadavers, has proved a barrier to confident interpretation of histotaphonomic data and as such research has often relied on received wisdom and inferential patterns. This study makes progress towards addressing these issues through controlled experimental research on five human cadavers in different burial scenarios at the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State. The burial conditions comprised 1) buried in soil, 2) buried in a coffin, 3) semi-buried in a coffin, 4) exposed on the ground surface, and 5) exposed in an unfilled trench all for a duration up to 30 months. Contrary to expectations, the different burial scenarios produced very little variation in histological preservation. In addition, very little bioerosion occurred on any of the remains throughout the duration of the study. Crucially, this suggests that bioerosion may not relate to the early post-mortem period, as has often been considered and means some previous interpretations may require reconsideration. Further work is required to clarify the variables impacting varied preservation.

Automated summary

In recent years, histological analysis has been widely used in archaeological contexts to reconstruct mortuary treatment. However, there is considerable disagreement on how the microstructural taphonomic changes, especially bacterial attack, should be interpreted. This study conducted controlled experimental research on five human cadavers in different burial scenarios to address these issues. The results indicate that burial conditions had little effect on histological preservation and showed that bioerosion may not be related to the early post-mortem period as previously believed.