Hi Lindsay,
only the surface DNA should be destroyed by UV light. Our standard
protocol includes UV irradiation of bones prior to all ancient DNA analysis.
Ursula
On 27/04/2010 4:24 AM, Auli Tourunen wrote:
> Dear Lindsay,
>
> UV also destroys DNA, so you might want to leave some bones untreated
> if that kind of approach is planned in the future.
>
> Cheers,
> Auli
>
> 2010/4/27 Curator of Archaeology <[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
>
> Dear Lindsay
> Here at Fishbourne Roman Palace we have problems with algal growth
> on our in situ mosaics. We are experimenting with the use of UVC
> light to kill the algae and this seems to work quite well. A bulb
> such as that used to keep ponds clean should do the job, but there
> will be health and safety matters to be considered/ The bulb will
> also create heat which may not be desirable. Once the algae has
> been killed, it should be able to clean it off with a light brushing.
> Best
> Rob
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites
> [mailto:[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>]
> *On Behalf Of *Lindsay Judith Foreman
> *Sent:* 26 April 2010 19:09
> *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> *Subject:* [ZOOARCH] Cleaning Algae from Bones
>
> Hello all,
>
> I have just recently excavated a horse skeleton from a bog and am
> wondering how to treat the bones. They were completely
> waterlogged, so, after cleaning the excess soil from them and
> giving them a light scrub, I have set them to dry completely. I
> would next like to clean off some of the algae and restore some of
> the bones to a lighter colour. Many of them are black from sitting
> in the brackish water, for an unknown period of time. The horse is
> also a subadult, so I don't want to handle the bones too much or
> immerse them into a very caustic solution that would compromise
> their integrity.
>
> I have briefly looked in the archives, but didn't really find
> anything I thought would work. Any information and tips you could
> provide would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thank you!
>
> Lindsay Foreman HBSc, MA
> PhD Candidate
> Department of Anthropology
> University of Western Ontario
> London, ON
> N6A 5C2
>
>
--
_________________________________________
Ursula Arndt, PhD Candidate
Ancient DNA Laboratory
Department for Archaeology
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Dr
Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
[log in to unmask], Ph: 778-782-8164
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