Preliminary application of the X-rays diffraction technique in experimental study of burnt bones

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2021.0042

Abstract

Abstract:

Burnt bones are commonly found in archaeological sites and they are significant to a due understanding of the uses of fire by prehistoric humans. Previous studies have shown that the crystalline state of burnt bones will change differently under varying heating intensities. In order to understand whether the initial states of bones will have some effects on their crystalline states after burning, 56 sheep bones were burned in this study. We prepared three different initial states of bones (fleshed, defleshed and dry), and we further refined the temperature and time parameters of incineration. All samples were analyzed by using XRD. We find that the different initial states did have an effect on the crystalline states of bones after their burning, under certain temperature and time conditions. We also discussed the possibility of the application of this discovery in archaeological research.

Key words: Burnt bone, Experimental archaeology, Zooarchaeology, Bioarchaeology, XRD, Bone mineral

CLC Number:

Q915.86

HUANG Chao, ZHANG Shuangquan. Preliminary application of the X-rays diffraction technique in experimental study of burnt bones[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2021, 40(03): 513-525.

Figures/Tables 15

Fig.1 The powder diffraction pattern of hydroxyapatite standard sample and its main peaks

Fig.2 Three initial states of experimental bones

Fig.3 The Definition of the crystallinity index on the diffractogram of hydroxyapatite, according to Person, et al

Fig.4 Powder diffraction pattern of bone samples before heating in a muffle furnace

Fig.5 Powder diffraction patterns of fleshed bones heat-treated from 300°C to 800°C for 120 min

Fig.6 Powder diffraction patterns of defleshed bones heat-treted from 300°C to 800°C for 120 min

Fig.7 Powder diffraction patterns of dry bones heat-treated from 300°C to 800°C for 120 min

Fig.8 Powder diffraction patterns of fleshed bones heat-treated at 300°C from 30 min to 240 min

Fig.9 Powder diffraction patterns of defleshed bones heat-treated at 300°C from 30 min to 240 min

Fig.10 Powder diffraction patterns of dry bones heat-treated at 300°C from 30 min to 240 min

Tab.1 The crystallinity index of the samples heated for 120 min

骨骼状态 Sample status 加热温度 Temperature	带肉骨 Fleshed bone	剔肉骨 Defleshed bone	干骨 Dry bone
300 °C	0.13	0.14	0.25
350 °C	0.13	0.15	0.19
400 °C	0.21	0.11	0.17
450 °C	0.14	0.1	0.21
500 °C	0.23	0.17	0.14
550 °C	0.22	0.18	0.31
600 °C	0.45	0.38	0.41
650 °C	1.19	0.76	0.52
700 °C	1.27	1.2	0.96
750 °C	1.26	1.21	0.87
800 °C	1.47	1.33	1.2

Tab.2 The crystallinity index of the samples heated at 300°C

骨骼状态 Sample Status 加热时间 Time	带肉骨 Fleshed bone	剔肉骨 Defleshed bone	干骨 Dry bone
30 min	0.12	0.13	0.31
60 min	0.14	0.14	0.21
90 min	0.11	0.13	0.36
120 min	0.13	0.14	0.25
150 min	0.14	0.14	0.19
180 min	0.19	0.13	0.28
210 min	0.22	0.13	0.31
240 min	0.15	0.13	0.24

Fig.11 Powder diffraction patterns of three initial states of bones heat-treated from 600 °C to 800 °C for 120min

Fig.12 A detailed comparison of the diffraction patterns of three initial state of bones heat-treated at 300°C from 30 min to 240min

Fig.13 The peaks of tricalcium phosphate Ca3(PO4)2 are found in three initial states of bones

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