Hello all,
I am writing to ask about some basic bone storage methods used by the
professional zooarch/museum community. I have been made aware that the New
Jersey State Historic Preservation Office is requiring that all bone to be
wrapped in aluminum foil before they would accept the materials for storage.
I was thinking that this is a wierd way to store all bone. Experiences at
several locations has showed bones being stored in plastic bags, paper bags,
and only foil for fragile specimens such as mandibles with loose teeth. But
never has tin/ aluminum foil been used as the primary wrapping.
This initially concerned me because I fear that the rather tough foil could
damage bone surfaces to potentially mimic or disguise cultural or biogenic
surface modifications. I guess it may be an avenue for some experimental
work! On top of that, if one wanted to look at the bones, unwrapping all
these fragments from their foil shrouds would be incredibly inhibiting. Not
to menton the time billed to clients as I watched lab assistant wrapping the
bones in bits of foil.
I am hoping for some insights into preferred methods to store bones.
Thanks in advance, Adam Heinrich
"Old crow of wisdom did say
...people of Asa land, it's only just begun..."
Bathory
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