Bone degradation at five Arctic archaeological sites: Quantifying the importance of burial environment and bone characteristics

Abstract The degradation of archaeological bones is influenced by many variables. bone material itself a composite both organic and inorganic components, their depends on processes occurring before after burial, intrinsic characteristics as well extrinsic environmental parameters. In this study we attempt to quantify the effect some variables using novel approach that includes detailed monitoring burial environment combined with respirometry studies from five sites in West Greenland. First, compare state preservation excavated current including soil pH, thawing degree days, porosity moisture. Secondly, investigate oxic collected samples through effects temperature moisture oxidation rate individual bones. Finally, discuss how Some main conclusions are: 1) There significant correlation between 2) measured increases average fourfold 10 °C, more than hundred-fold when dry are soaked water. 3) different varies over two orders magnitude due such content 4) median wet at 15 °C corresponds yearly loss 3.8% mean content, while for 75% RH 0.02%. 5) Respirometry promising tool quantitative bone, but needed order obtain better understanding involved.