Print

Print
Stained what colour, Bruce? One possibility is that this is from a deposit that has undergone a recent change of pore water/gas, altering the mineralisation of the external surface. The endosteal surface, being somewhat isolated from the surrounding sediment, may have reacted more slowly and retained its former condition. But that's a real speculation!

Terry

Terry O'Connor
 NB new email address [log in to unmask]. [log in to unmask] will shortly cease to operate
Professor of Archaeological Science
Department of Archaeology, University of York
Biology S Block, Heslington,
York YO10 5DD
+44-1943-328619
http://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/academic-staff/terry-oconnor/
 



On 18 July 2012 17:50, Bruce L. Manzano <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hello!  This stained bone questions is very interesting.  I have one bone fragment from a historic site in Mississippi that appears stained on the internal bone.  The outer and inner surfaces do not show the stain except possibly as small dots scattered on the surface.   I wonder if such a pattern occurs with the stained bones being discussed?   Thanks for your replies!

Bruce L. Manzano
Program for Archaeological Research
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky  40506
[log in to unmask]