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Ancient Nubian human bone: A chemical and ultrastructural characterization including collagen
Author(s) -
Race G. J.,
Fry E. I.,
Matthews J. L.,
Wagner M. J.,
Martin J. H.,
Lynn J. A.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330280213
Subject(s) - ultrastructure , fossilization , hydroxyproline , human bone , chemistry , amorphous solid , characterization (materials science) , mineralogy , anatomy , materials science , biology , crystallography , biochemistry , nanotechnology , philosophy , linguistics , in vitro
Human bone 14,000 years of age from the Egyptian Nubian Desert has shown ultrastructural preservation of fossilized fibers with a periodicity of 600 Å. Intact Haversian systems were retained, but hydroxyproline and nitrogen contents were negligible. The fluorine content was markedly elevated. The complex chemical process of fossilization which resulted in retention of gross and micromorphology was examined and indicated the loss of organic material with probable replacement of some hydroxyapatite by amorphous and crystalline carbonates and phosphates.