Orders & Contracts

Diagenetic processes significantly alter bone geochemistry, complicating dietary reconstructions from archaeological remains. A study of four Neolithic skeletons from the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Dhar Oualata (Mauritania) and Daounas (Mali) revealed that local taphonomic conditions—such as drainage and flooding—differentially affected bone preservation. Bones from highly drained, periodically flooded environments showed substantial bacterial damage, low apatite crystallinity, and secondary mineral formation, leading to greater diagenetic alteration of trace elements and stable isotopes compared to bones from drier sites. By analyzing intra-skeletal variability and comparing bone and tooth geochemistry, researchers approximated ante-mortem compositions, highlighting the importance of selecting the best-preserved samples for accurate dietary reconstructions.

(Ed.). (2010). Orders & Contracts. Filtration Industry Analyst, 2010(11), 13. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1365-6937(10)70346-4